Intro to Profession: Code of Ethics for Dental Hygiene Practice

What year did CDHO adopt and endorse CDHA Code of Ethics?

1996

What are the three things DH are obligated to ensure?

1. Competence

2. Practice professional morals and values

3. Aware and implement ethical principles and laws that protect the well being of the public.

What is the code of ethics?

Set of rules and guidelines that identifies ethical principles and standard of the profession. (Best practice)

• Guides the professional

• A resources for education, reflection, self-evaluation and peer review

• A resource to educate the public

• A resource to promote accountability

What does the Beemsterboer suggest are the attributes paramount to ethical behaviour?

1. Caring and compassion

2. Honesty and integrity

3. Reliability and responsibility

4. Maturity and self-analysis

5. Loyalty

6. Interpersonal communication

7. Respect for others and for self

What are the 5 principles to Canadian Dental Hygiene Code of Ethics?

1. Beneficence

2. Autonomy

3. Integrity

4. Accountability

5. Confidentiality

Principle 1: Beneficence

Caring about and promoting the good of another.

Dental hygienists use their knowledge and skills to assist clients to achieve and maintain optimal oral health and to promote reasonable access to care.

Principle 2: Autonomy

The right to make one’s own choices.

The dental hygienist must communicate relevant information openly and truthfully to assist their client’s in making informed choices and to participate actively in achieving and maintaining their optimal oral health.

Principle 3: Integrity

Integrity relates to consistency of actions, values, methods, expectations, and outcomes.

It includes the promotion of fairness, and social justice with consideration for those clients more vulnerable. It conveys a sense of wholeness and strength and doing what is right with honesty and truthfulness.

Principle 4: Accountability

Acceptance of responsibility for one’s actions and omissions in relation to principles, standards, laws, and regulations.

It includes the potential to self-evaluate and be evaluated.

Dental hygienists must take responsibility for their behaviour and decisions in a professional context.

Principle 5: Confidentiality

An individuals’ right to decide the conditions under which others will permitted access to his or her personal life or information.

Dental hygienist must respect the privacy of clients.

Duty to hold in confidence secret information acquired in a professional relationship.

What are the 8 steps in decision making (CDHA and CDHO)?

1. Identify the nature of the problem

2. Gather factual information relevant to the problem.

3. Clarify the problem

4. Identify options for Action

5. Assess various options using policies, legislation, and regulations

6. Decide on a course of action

7. Implement your decision

8. Assess the consequences of your decision.