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BAHAMAS DENTAL COUNCIL

NATIONAL GUIDELINES

PRINCIPLES OF ETHICS
AND
PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
FOR
The Practice of Dentistry
In The Bahamas

May, 1998

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Part I
General

Part II
Advisory opinions
Paragraph(s)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
5.2
5.3
5.4
5.5
5.6
5.7
5.8
5.9

General Fitness and


Integrity
Competence and
Appropriate Skills in
Practice
Generally Recognized Duty
and Responsibility
Creditable Behavior and
Personal Deportment
Acceptable Professional
Conduct
Examination and
Treatment
Personal Association with
patients
Advertising
Professional Confidentiality
Continuity of Treatment
and Referrals
Dissemination of
Information regarding
Patient
Division of Fees
Alcohol and Drug Abuse

5.10 Announcements and


Representation of
Qualifications
5.11 Participation in Media
Interview
5.12 Efficacy of Drugs and
Treatment
6 Oral Radiology
6.1 Radiation Exposure
6.2 Dental Radiographic
Equipment

Part 1
General
Dental Ethics deal with a code of behavior that dental
professionals are obliged to display to their patients, their
profession and the general public.
The Bahamas Dental Council submits the following guidance
on ethical standards in response to the mandate defining its
role in regulating the practice of dentistry in The Bahamas as
stated in the Dental Act, 1989. Failure to comply with the

stated principles may be grounds for disciplinary action by


the Council.
The ethical responsibilities of the dental practitioner and the
increased scrutiny of the public in the activities of dentists
and the dental profession compel dentists to display, at all
times the highest standards of professional conduct.
The internationale Federation Dentaire (FDI) states in their
International Principles of Ethics for the Dental Profession,
that The dentist has an obligation to work constantly for
progress of dental science b y service to (1) the patient, (2) the
community and (3) the profession. In conformity with these
principles, the following obligations, though not exclusive,
must be observed by all practitioners:
1. General fitness and integrity.
2. Competence and appropriate skills in the practice of
dentistry.
3. General recognized duty and responsibility.
4. Creditable behavior and personal deportment.
5. Acceptable professional conduct in the area of:
Examination and treatment of patients;
Personal association with patients;
Advertising avoid promoting oneself to gain professional
advantage;
Professional confidentiality
Continuity of treatment of referral;
Dissemination of information regarding patients;
Division of fees between providers of dental services;
Alcohol and drug abuse;
Announcement and representation of qualifications;
Participating in media interviews;
Representation of the efficacy of drugs and treatment
procedures.
Part II
Advisory Opinions
The Council realizes the generality of the foregoing, therefore
submits the following advisory opinions.
1.0

General Fitness and Integrity:


1.1 The physical and mental condition of the dental
practitioner must be such as to enable him/her to perform in

a satisfactory manner, the professional services for which


he/she is registered.
2.0

Competence and Appropriate Skills in Practice:


2.1 The primary concern of the dentist is the health of the
patient. He/she is obligated to deliver quality care in a
competent and timely manner as dictated by the clinical
conditions presented.
2.2 All practitioners are required to keep their skills
current in order to utilize and accommodate the modern
techniques and ever changing health and procedural
parameters.
2.3 It is the responsibility of the dentist to avail
himself/herself to continuous education programs.

3.0

Generally Recognized Duty and Responsibility:


3.1 Every actively practicing dentist must continue to
develop professional knowledge and skills from continuing
education throughout ones professional life.
3.2 It is the responsibility of the dentist to support and
promote oral health programmes to improve the oral health
of the public.
3.3 The dentist must accept full responsibility for any
treatment rendered in his practice. Delegation of duties to
assistants or other allied personnel does not relieve the
dentist from responsibility.
3.4 No ancillary person should be deputized as provider for
the care of a patient unless that person has obtained the
qualifications as required by the Dental Act, 1989 to render
such service.

4.0

Creditable Behavior and Personal Deportment


4.1 The dentist must conduct himself/herself honestly,
fairly and legally in all aspects of professional life. The
behavior of the dentist reflects not only on the individual
but also on the profession. Discreditable behavior would
indirectly affect the public reputation of the profession.

5.0

Acceptable Professional Conduct


5.1 Conduct that is professionally accepted among
colleagues as customary and correct and that which
conforms with the laws governing the profession is deemed
acceptable.

5.2 Examination and Treatment;


(a) Examination of the patient must be thorough and
comprehensive. Past and present medical and dental
history should be considered along with the evaluation of
the condition for which the patient is being seen.
(b) The varied oral disabilities associated with dental
diseases place the added responsibility of rendering
treatment that not only remedies the complaint, but also
maintains or improves the functional and aesthetic
condition.
(c)
Patients preference and related treatment cost
invariably affect treatment planning. The patient must be
informed of all possible approaches to a successful cure so
that informed decisions may be made.
5.3

Personal Association with Patient:


(a) The success of treatment in dentistry is highly
dependent on the trust and rapport that exist between the
dentist and the patient. Care must be taken not to damage
this important aspect of the treatment modality.
(b) Information obtained through history taking may
make the patient vulnerable to personal advances by the
dentist. Any abuse of this information to the disadvantage
of the patient, in any way, is highly condemned by the
profession.
(c)
Sexual indecorum will certainly breach the rapport
necessary for successful treatment.

5.4

Advertising:
(a) Presently, it is considered inappropriate for dentists
to advertise. Section 23 (2),(b) of the Dental Act, 1989
states that serious professional misconduct includes
any form of advertising, canvassing or promotion either

directly or indirectly for the purpose of obtaining patients or


promoting his own professional advantage;.
(b) No form of communication with the public shall, in
any way, be of a nature that is false or misleading, or such
that may be misconstrued to gain advantage over ones
colleague. No form of advertising should suggest
superiority of service.
(c)
The Council does not consider directory listings
without itemization of services as advertising. The listing
of fees, use of slogans or graphic illustrations in directory
listings is prohibited as these practices do not enhance the
public overall perception of the profession. Inclusion of
personal photographs is unacceptable and is not considered
a reputable form of marketing.
(d) Lettering on office signs indicating the dentists name
and qualifications should be limited to a height of 4 inches
(10 cm).
(e)
When assuming an existing practice, dentist must be
mindful that it is unethical to use the name of a dentist who
has not been associated with the practice for a period of
more than one year.
5.5

Professional confidentiality;
(a) The dentist and his/her staff are obligated to hold in
strict confidence information obtained from patients
regarding t heir health or history. The dentist must assume
the responsibility for persons in his employment.
(b) Failure of staff members to maintain confidentiality is
in itself grounds for dismissal.
(c)
Legal situations may arise that can negate this
responsibility, e.g. in cases of serious crimes, or, for the
protection of the public.

5.6

Continuity of Treatment and Referrals:


(a) As a patient has the freedom to choose a dentist, so
has the dentist the right to reject any person as a patient on
a nondiscriminatory basis, unless in an emergency
situation.

(b) Once accepting a patient, the dentist has the


obligation to continue treatment until resolution of the
presenting primary ailment, unless the prescribed
treatment is refused by the patient or the need arises that
warrants referral.
(c)
Circumstances, such as noncompliance with the
agreed treatment plan or financial arrangements may
absolve the dentist from the obligation to continue
treatment.
(d) Delegation of duties to assistants or other allied
personnel does not relieve the primary dentist of his
responsibility. No ancillary person should be deputized as
provider for the care of a patient unless that person has
obtained proper qualification, as required by law, to render
such services.
(e)
The Council recognizes that treatment of certain
conditions will be beyond the ability of a practitioner,
requiring the need for referral to persons with the necessary
expertise. Patients should be given the opportunity to
choose from the available specialists after being given the
particulars regarding the referral. It is the referring
dentists responsibility to correspond with the specialist
about the case prior to the consultation visit. Specialists
acceptance of referred patients is considered provisional. It
is expected that, upon completion of the required services,
the patient be returned to the original dentist.
(f)
When a patient is seen provisionally because of the
absence of his/her primary dentist, treatment must be
limited to the presenting complaint, unless otherwise
explicitly, requested by the patient. Courtesy dictates that
the original dentist be informed of the patients request as
soon as practical.
5.7

Dissemination of Information regarding Patients:


(a) Information obtained from patients regarding their
health and history must be held in strict confidence.
Dissemination of this information must not be done without
prior consent, except when otherwise required by law or
where such information may assist in the continued
management of the patient by a collaborating health
professional.

(b) Transfer of sensitive information about the history of


the patient should be approved by the patient, in writing,
for the legal protection of the provider.
(c)
Records of patients must be kept secured and for a
period of at least fifteen years, unless otherwise dictated by
law.
(d) When a legitimate request is made for the records of a
patient, a copy may be submitted while the original remains
in the original dentists files.
5.8

Division of Fees between Providers or Dental Services;


(a) It is expected that adequate compensation be received
by dentists for services rendered. These fees must be
justifiable and commensurate to the extent of services and
the expertise utilized in the granting of treatment.
(b) Price-fixing and fee-splitting are regarded as
unethical practices. Acceptance of fees or commissions for
referral of patients is prohibited.
(c)
A dentist who has an interest in, or serves in an
administrative position of, an institution or agency should
refrain from referring patients to such an establishment or
to any other dental practitioner attached to that agency or
institution. This practice may be considered a conflict of
interest and should be avoided.

5.9

Alcohol and Drug Abuse:


(a) All dentists have the responsibility to their profession
to report the relevant authority any knowledge of substance
abuse by their colleagues. The welfare of the patient must
always be the primary concern of the practitioner. A
dentist is liable to disciplinary proceedings if found guilty of
performing dental services while under the influence of
drugs or alcohol.
(b) Successful completion of the appropriate treatment
for an impairment is mandatory before a dentist may
resume practice.
(c)
Prolong absence will require refresher courses prior to
returning to practice.

5.10 Announcements and Representation of Qualifications:


(a) Professional announcements must not be false or
misleading. It is the Councils duty and intent to protect
the public from any misrepresentation of services available
or the efficacy of such services.
(b) In announcing ones qualifications, the dentist may
use only those entered in the Dental Register under his/her
name. General practitioners should avoid implication of
specialization in their releases or on their signs.
(c)
Areas of specialty recognized by the Bahamas Dental
Council are:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
(vi)
(vii)
(viii)

dental public health,


endodontics,
oral pathology,
oral and maxillofacial surgery,
orthodontics
pediatric dentistry,
periodontics and
prosthodontics.

(d) Only an individual possessing qualifications in one of


the recognized specialties from an accredited programme
may announce that he/she is specialist in that aspect of
dentistry.
(e)

Guidelines for newspaper announcements:


(i)
(ii)
(iii)

The format shall exclude personal photographs.


The number or insertion shall be limited to
fourteen.
The size of the insertion shall be no larger than
4 x 6

(f)
Reasons for newspaper announcements shall be
limited to:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
(vi)

Opening of practice
Relocation of practice
Addition to professional staff.
Absence from office.
Emergency coverage.
Notification of additional specialized training.

(g) The Council recommends that dentist submit


proposed announcements for approval, it there is question
about the suitability of the releases.
(h) Practice signage should be representative and
accurate. This information should be limited to the names
of the practitioners, hours in attendance, type of practice
(e.g. Family Dentistry, General Dentistry or Specializing in
), address and telephone numbers.
5.11 Participation in Media interviews:
(a) Dentists are encouraged to participate in interviews
on the radio, television and in the press or other print
media. These occasions must be used for dissemination of
information that will benefit the profession in general and
not for the promotion of ones practice.
(b) Dentists are cautioned to avoid acting as
spokespersons for the dental profession, or expressing their
views, on contentious issues. The media should be referred
to the Dental Association or the Dental Council on such
matters.
5.12 Efficacy of Drugs and Treatment:
(a) Care must be taken not to make false or improper
claims regarding the efficacy of drugs administered or
treatment rendered.
(b) The patient is entitled to information relative to the
limitations of, and complications that may arise from, any
service rendered.
(c)
The patient should be informed that the restoration of
a dental defect is not expected to be functional for an
unlimited period of time, and that oral hygiene will
determine its condition.
6.0

Oral Radiography:
6.1 Radiation Exposure
(a) The dentist is responsible for safe radiological practice
for the protection of the patient and the staff from excessive
ionizing radiation.

(b) Staff must be properly supervised and trained in the


exposure of patients to dental radiation.
6.2 Dental Radiography Equipment
Radiographic machines should be calibrated and
maintained to ensure the proper emission of ionizing rays.

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