Ethical Theories
Consequentialism/Utilitarianism
Theory of RIGHTNESS and WRONGNESS of actions, determined by consequences.
Principle of Nonmaleficence
Health care professionals' first obligation to patient is to "Do No Harm." NOT inflicting harm takes precedence over preventing harm.
Paternalism
An act/action based on doing good for a patient, in the manner of that of a parent, but is done without the patient's full knowledge. An approach that limits the patient's autonomy.
HYGIENISTS RARELY, IF EVER, APPLY PATERNALISM IN PRACTICE.
Characteristics of a True Profession
Specialized body of knowledge of value to society. Intensive academic course of study, standards of practice, external recognition by society, etc.
Universal Law
The test of any rule of conduct is whether it can be a duty for all human beings to act on. What tells us whether an action is directly related to an overriding duty.
Nonconsequentialism/ Deontology
Theory asserting that an action is right when it conforms to a duty/rule.
Principle of Beneficence
Requires existing harm to be removed. Focuses on "doing good" for the patient. Consequentialist approach!
Veracity
Being honest, telling the truth. Healthcare providers are expected to be truthful about patient treatment, diagnosis, etc.
Commercial Model of Professionalism
Relationship in which dentistry is a COMMODITY; a simple selling and buying of services. The patient is the consumer, the dentist is the producer. Dental needs of the patient are not as important as what patient is willing to pay or what gives dentist the greatest return on time, effort, and materials.
Benevolent Deception
Practice of withholding information from a patient because of the clinician's belief that the information may harm the individual. This practice is in tradition of the Hippocratic Oath, but is not supported by most Codes of Ethics.
Virtue Ethics
A theory that focuses on the character traits of an individual rather than the individual's specific behavior.
Principle of Autonomy
An individual's ability to self-govern and self-direct. Allows individuals to make decisions about their own health; healthcare professionals MUST respect patient autonomy.
Informed Consent
Where healthcare provider educates patient about risks, benefits, and alternatives of a given procedure.
Guild Model of Professionalism
Presents dentistry as an all-knowing profession; patient has dental needs, and dentist as a member of the profession, provides care to meet patient needs. Patient is considered uninformed and passive (Paternalistic undertaking).
Categorical Imperative
A rule/standard of conduct that is absolutely binding to all human beings, under all circumstances in which the rule or standard applies.
Cognitive Development Theory
People operate on their experiences to make sense of them, and those experiences in turn change the basic conceptual structures by which people construct meaning.
Kohlberg!
Principle of Justice
Considered principle of equality; the principle that deals with fairness and the allocation of what people earn or deserve.
Prima Facie Duties
Duties that must be done before anything else is considered.
Interactive Model of Professionalism
The patient and dentist are EQUALS and have equal roles of moral status in process of dental care delivery. Patient determines their own needs, and healthcare choices on the basis of their own personal values and priorities, but seek care of dentist because of their knowledge and skill.
Normative Principles
Provide a cognitive framework for analyzing moral questions and problems. They are also linked to commonly expected behaviors, as they're based on shared standards of thinking/behaving.
Principle of Double Effect
Causing some degree of harm when that harm will lead to a greater good, which may be desirable and necessary.
Distributive Justice
The just and fair allocation and distribution of resources for the good of society.
Imperfect Duties
Moral obligations to act in certain ways, but to leave it to each person to judge when and in what situation to fulfill the obligation.
*Imperfect, meaning it is conditionally binding depending on individual's judgement to determine when to fulfill the obligation.
Who developed the 3 models of professionalism?
David Ozar.
Dental Hygiene Competencies
- Provide care to patients of all ages, races, origins, etc.
- Provide dental hygiene process of care, tending to realistic goals and outcomes.
- Protect patient's identity and information.