Ethics in Dentistry: Part II - Codes of Ethics
Course Number: 528
Dental Code
The American Dental Association’s (ADA) Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct outlines the ethical standards expected of dentists. The Code is organized into three components: principles of ethics, the code of professional conduct, and advisory opinions. The principles reflect the core values of the profession: autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, justice, and veracity. The code of professional conduct defines specific actions that are required or prohibited, while advisory opinions provide interpretation and guidance for applying these standards in practice. Together, these elements help dentists evaluate professional behavior, make ethical decisions, and uphold their responsibilities to patients and society.
| Section | Principle | Topics Addressed |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Patient autonomy | Patient involvement; patient records |
| 2 | Nonmaleficence | Education; consultation and referral; use of – support personnel; personal impairment; bloodborne pathogens; patient abandonment; Personal relationship with patients |
| 3 | Beneficence | Community service; government of a profession; research and development; patents and copyrights; abuse and neglect; professional demeanor in the workplace |
| 4 | Justice | Patient selection; emergency service; Justifiable criticism; expert testimony; rebates and split fees |
| 5 | Veracity | Representation of care, fees; disclosure of conflict of interest; devices and therapeutic methods; professional announcement; advertising; name of practice; announcement of specialization; general practitioner announcement of credentials |
The portion of the ADA Code that addresses conduct for dentists—the code of professional conduct—delineates conduct that is either required or prohibited. Each section of the code of professional conduct is followed by an advisory opinion. These opinions expand on an issue and often include legal warnings or suggestions for the dentist to seek further information or advice. Guidance is provided in the ADA Code for anyone who believes a member dentist has acted unethically, and the code further explains that censure or suspension can result from a fair hearing on any unethical conduct. The ADA Code, with current official advisory opinions is available at www.ada.org.