Code of ethics

PHILIPPINE DENTAL

ASSOCIATION

CODE OF ETHICS

ARTICLE I

DUTY TO THE COMMUNITY

Section 1.

Primary Duty

 The dentist primary duty of serving the

public is accomplished by giving his

professional service to the best of his

capabilities and to conduct himself in

such a manner as to hold his profession

in high esteem.

Section 2.

Emergency Service

• A dentist, dental hygienist, and dental technologist

when consulted in an emergency by the patient of

another, shall attend ONLY to the conditions leading

to the emergency. Upon completion of the

treatment, he/she shall return the patient to his/her

dentist-of-record and inform him/her of the

conditions found and treated.

Section 3.

Delegation of Services

• Dentist shall conduct himself/herself a professional

deportment at all times; therefore, he shall not delegate,

procedure, services, or operations in the mouth which

require his/her personal competence as a professional.

He/she shall only delegate services to duly licensed

dentist, licensed dental hygienist, or licensed dental

technologist in his/her employ to perform dental services

duly expressed by law. He/she shall at all times be

responsible for the actions of his/her employ at the areas

of his/her jurisdictions (or areas of assigned practice)

during assigned clinic/duty hours.

Section 4.

Supervision of Work

•The dentist shall supervise his/her

associates and his/her auxiliaries in

the performance of their duties and

shall at all times assure delivery of

quality standards of care.

Section 5.

Professional Fees

The dentist shall ascertain fees for his/her

professional services taking into consideration the

nature of the case, his/her expertise of the case,

efforts, skills and materials involved. The dentist

must discuss the treatment plan, options, and

corresponding fees for the proposed treatment

options. He/she shall at all times give credence to

his/her work, and therefore, establish his/her

professional fees rendering due dignity to the

profession.

Section 6.

Irreproachable Conduct

• The dentist shall conduct himself/herself in a manner

completely above suspicion or reproach. The dentist

shall not allow his/her name to cover up illegal acts

such as misrepresentation of industrial / commercial

/ private establishments required by law to engage

the services of a dentist or for illegal practitioners,

quacks, or charlatans; or to provide certification

without due basis.

Section 7.

Discoveries of Works

• In the interest of public health, the dentist,

dental hygienist, and dental technologist must

make available their discoveries, inventions,

or works which are useful in safeguarding or

promoting health, subject to government

regulatory laws.

Section 8.

Dental Health Care Program

• The dentist, dental hygienist, and dental

technologist shall participate in programs

designed for oral health education and care.

They shall participate in volunteer programs

for the delivery of oral health services in

underserved and underprivileged areas.

Section 9.

Leadership

In all efforts to improve the dental health of

the public, the dentist, dental hygienist,

and dental technologist shall make

available to the community their skills,

knowledge, and experiences, particularly in

the field of specialty.

Section 10. Bioethics-

• Every dentist participating in research projects involving

procedure in the oral cavity to any person/s must conform

to international ethical standards taking into

considerations the human rights of the subjects and duly

informing them of the outcome and risks of the study. Each

subject must have a signed informed consent form/s

obtained at the onset of the study; and in instances where

changes in the research protocol is essential for the

completion of the study, another signed informed consent

form must be obtained from the subjects. In the event that

minors are the subjects of the study, parental consent must

be obtained.

Section 11. Records Keeping-

• Every dentist must obtain baseline medical

and dental record for all patients of his/her

office. The said records must include, among

others, his/her treatment plan, diagnostic

records such as radiographs, blood test

record/results, consent form. Medical

clearance must be filed with the patients

dental records and must be in his/her

safekeeping for at least ten (10) years.

ARTICLE II

DUTY TO THE PROFESSION

Section 12. Keeping Professionally Fit-

•The right of every dentist, dental hygienist,

and dental technologist to professional

status rests in the degree of knowledge,

skills, and efficiency with which he/she

serves his/her patients, his/her

community, and the nationalities under

his/her care.

12.1 Continuing Professional Development-

In order to continually enhance his professional

competence, every dentist, dental hygienist, or dental

technologist shall pursue continuing education

programs offered by the Philippine Dental Association,

(PDA) Inc. and credited CPE providers duly accredited

by the CPE Council for dentists, dental hygienists, and

dental technologists and other CPE programs duly

accredited by the Board of Dentistry and PRC.

12.2 Continuing Professional Education

Development Credits (CDEC)

Every dentist, dental hygienist, or dental technologist shall

complete a minimum of sixty (60) Continuing

Education/Development Credit units every three (3) years

prior to the renewal of his Professional Identification

Card, provided that the nature of the CPE programs shall

conform to the advance competency program stipulated

by the CPE Council.

***PRC / Board of Dentistry– has approved 45 CDEC units

every 3 years prior to renewal of license

12.3 Preceptorship-

• The Board of Dentistry shall directly regulate the

establishment and conduct of training delivered

independently by an individual or group of dental

professionals, having appropriate juridical

personalities. The aforementioned training must

be conducted in a school duly recognized by the

Commission on Higher Education or hospital duly

recognized by the Department of Health as a

training hospital.

12.4 Specialty Group-

Each Specialty Society shall apply to the Board of Dentistry

for the accreditation of the Society. Each Specialty

Society must evolve its own system of accreditation of its

members subject to the approval of the Board and the

Commission; provided, that specialty training, accredit

training programs under its area of specialization , assist

the Board of Dentistry in monitoring the different

specialty programs and preceptorship, establish its

council, police its own ranks; and shall at all times

safeguard the public against those who do not meet the

qualifications prescribed by the system.

12.5 Evidence of Professional Credentials-

The dentist’s school diploma, certificate of registration,

professional identification card, certificates of

training/residency, certificate of proficiency issued by

specialty council, the Board of Dentistry and such other

documents, or papers required by the law shall be

displayed in his clinic or reception room. Plaques,

Testimonials, Certificates of Appreciation obtained as a

result of the dentist’s professional competency maybe

displayed separately in the dentist’s private office only. For

other venues of practice, a certified true copy shall be

obtained from the dental school and Certificate of

Registration and Professional Identification Card obtained

at PRC and properly posted at the aforementioned areas.

Section 13. Duty to Report-

• The dentist, dental hygienist, or dental technologist report all

violations of the “Philippine Dental Act of 2007”, rules and

regulations governing the practice of Dentistry, and this

Code, as may be committed by a duly licensed dentist, dental

hygienist, or dental technologist, or non-Dentist, which

comes to their knowledge, to the appropriate chapter or

affiliate society, the Board, or the Professional Regulation

Commission. Alleged illegal dental practitioners must be

treated with due respect in accordance to their primal

human rights and must be presumed innocent until proven

guilty.

Section 14. Professional Consultation and

Referral-

• The dentist shall seek consultation or make a referral

whenever the welfare of the patient requires recourse

to those who possess appropriate professional

expertise. The consultant shall discuss the details of

the case management to the referring dentist and

patient. The consultant shall observe and manage

post-operative-conditions and refer the patient back

to the referring dentist after the management of the

cause of the referral.

Section 15.Transfer of Patients

The dentist shall properly endorse his or her patient to

another dentist with proper release of documents in

instances such as transfer of residence or place of work of

either the patient or dentist; closure of the dental clinic;

migration of the dentist to another country, in instances

wherein healthy relation between patient and dentist no

longer exists, for whatever reason. Certification of Release

must contain extent of work rendered and absence, or

presence of obligation from the previous dentist-of-record.

• 15.1 The entire referral process should be

properly documented and entered into the

records of both dentists.

• 15.2 The receiving dentist, prior to

managing the new case, shall, in the spirit of

solidarity and collegiality, inform the

previous dentist-of-record of the said intent

of transfer.

• 15.3 In case of transfer patients, receiving

dentist must generate his/her own record as

baseline information for the treatment.

• 15.4 In case a DENTIST is unable to

continue to address the needs of the

patient, the dentist shall convey his/her

commitment to provide emergency dental

care until such time that the patient can

transfer to another dentist.

Section 16. Professional

Opinion/Testimony-

•The dentist shall institute

corrective treatment in case of

faulty management by

another dentist without

criticism.

16.1 Justifiable Criticism-

Every dentist shall report to

the appropriate authority or

professional societies

instances of gross and

continual faulty treatment by

another dentist.

16.2 Responsible Comments-

• The dentist shall at all times limit comments

within the nature of the referral or consultation.

Dentist must refrain from criticizing the skill,

knowledge and experience of another dentist in

the presence of a patient or elsewhere, for lack

of accurate knowledge of the conditions or

circumstances under which the services were

rendered.

16.3 Expert Testimony-

•The dentist rendering expert

testimony in cases of litigations shall

limit comments to the case brought

forth and avoid undue criticism to

defame or discredit the other.

Section 17. Performance of

Obligations-

• The dentist shall perform in good faith

and with due diligence all his/her

obligations arising from agreements

with patients, or other persons and

financing institution, or other

instrumentalities, so as not to

undermine the prestige of the

profession

Section 18. Testimonials-

• The dentist, the dental hygienist, or dental

technologist shall consider the dignity of the

dental profession before providing professional

opinion or endorsement of professional and/or

proprietary products and techniques. A dentist,

dental hygienist, or dental technologist or any

association of dentists shall not give direct

testimonials or endorsement of products for the

delivery of dental care.

ARTICLE III

PRACTICE MANAGEMENT

Section 19. Building a Dental Practice-

•The dentist, dental hygienist, or

dental technologist shall make

his/her practice known in a

manner befitting a professional.

19.1 FAIR means to Build Professional

Practice-

• The dentist, dental hygienist, or dental

technologist shall ONLY use fair means to gain

professional advancement, or shall not injure

the opportunities of other dental practitioners

such as false claims of one’s competency.

19.2 Title of the practice-

• To maintain the dignity of the profession a

dentist shall only use the term “Clinic” or

“Office” in reference to the dental practice. The

name of the practice shall conform to the high

esteem of the profession avoiding

commercialized names, which may be

inappropriate to the profession.

19.3 Soliciting Patients-

• A dentist shall not solicit patients personally or

employ his/her patients, agents, or agencies to

solicit patients for him/her. He/she shall not

accept/offer rebates or receive commissions for

referrals; nor engage in any promotional activity

which will be degrading the dignity of the

profession. Piracy of patients shall be avoided at all

times. Offering “Promotional Rates” shall not be

allowed in the practice of the dental profession.

Section 20. Authorized Advertising-

• The best and honorable means by which a

dentist, dental hygienist, or dental technologist

may make known and advance his/her

reputation for skills and competence in the

practice of dentistry is through his professional

services to his/her patients and to the public.

20.1 Signages-

• The signage quality and quantity shall to be as decent and

dignified and shall conform with the regulations of the local

government code. It shall state the nature of the dental

practice and may include the name of the dentist and clinic

hours. The term “X-ray”, “Gas”, “Air-abrasive”, “dental

laboratory”, “air-conditioned”, or any technical terms; and

misleading claims must not appear in the card, stationeries,

office doors, and signboards of the dentist. When placing

his/her name upon the directory board of an office building,

the dentist must comply with the use of only the size of

lettering regularly used by the tenants in said building

20.2 Use of Professional titles and

degrees-

• The dentist shall use only the usual

titles and academic degrees such as

“Doctor”, “Dentist”, “DDS”, “DMD”,

“DDM”, in connection with his/her

name or signature.

20.3 Professional Stationery-

•A dentist, dental hygienist, or

dental technologist shall identify

himself/herself as dental

practitioner only in the ff.

manner:

20.3.1 Cards, Letterheads and

Announcements-

• A dentist, dental hygienist, or dental

technologist may properly utilize

professional cards, recall notices to

patients of record and letterheads when

the style and text are consistent with the

dignity of the profession.

20.3.2 Professional Cards-

• They must be of traditional size and type and shall

not include more than the dentist’s name, academic

degree, address, telephone number and office hours.

If he/she confines himself/herself to the practice of a

specialty, he/she may include the ff; “practice

limited to.....

” announcing the specialty and nothing

more.

• 20.3.3 Telephone and other Directories-

The dentist, dental hygienist, or dental technologist

may authorize the listing of his/her name in a

telephone or other directory.

• 20.3.4 Electronically Generated

Communications- The simple and dignified

means of professional announcement shall apply to

all electronically generated communications;

provided, it is in consonance with the provisions of

the Code of Ethics.

Section 21. Announcement-

• The dentist shall use newspaper announcement only when

opening a new clinic, or when changing location, or limiting

the character of his/her practice; provided, that the

newspaper announcement shall not be larger than 2 column

inches by 2 column inches. Announcements in print, website,

e-cards, and other electronic form of communication shall be

posted within thirty (30) days from the date of opening.

Announcement cards may be sent when there is a change in

location, or an alteration in the character of practice, but to

other dentists, members of the health profession, and

patients-of-record.

Section 22. Membership and Financial

Support-

• The dentist, dental hygienist, and dental technologist shall

be active members of the Philippine Dental Association,

(PDA) Inc. the integrated national organizations of dentists,

dental hygienists, and dental technologists duly recognized

by the Board of Dentistry and accredited by the

Professional Regulations Commission and of the bona fide

Dental chapter of the association in reasonable amount

fixed by the association and chapter.