The Legal Framework Of Dentistry

• GDC Standards - it sets out what patients expect from their dental professionals:

  • Principles
  • The core ethical principles of practice
  • Patient expectations
  • What patients can expect from the dental team
  • Standards
  • What registrants must do to ensure patient expectations are met
  • Guidance
  • How registrants meet the standards
  • "Must" is used where the duty is compulsory
  • "Should" is used where the duty would not apply in all situations and where there are exceptional circumstances outside your control that could affect her whether, or how, you can comply with the guidance.
• 9 GDC Principles:

  1. Put patients' interests first
  2. Communicate effectively with patients
  3. Obtain valid consent
  4. Maintain and protect patients' information
  5. Have a clear and effective complaints procedure
  6. Work with colleagues in a way that is in patients' best interests
  7. Maintain, develop and work within your professional knowledge and skills
  8. Raise concerns if patients are at risk
  9. Make sure your personal behaviour maintains patients' confidence in you and the dental profession
• Principle 1: Putting pts' interests first

  • Patient expectations
  • To be listened to and have their preferences and concerns taken into account
  • To be treated as individuals and have their cultures and values respected
  • That all members of the dental team will be honest and act with integrity
  • That all aspects of their health and wellbeing will be considered and that they will receive dental care that is appropriate for them
  • To be treated in a clean and safe environment
• Principle 1: Putting pts' interests first

  • Patient expectations
  • That reasonable adjustments will be made for any disabilities
  • That their interests will be put before financial gain and business need
  • Redress if they suffer harm during dental treatment
  • That their dental pain and anxiety will be managed appropriately
• Principle 1: Putting pts' interests first

  • Standards
  • You must
  • 1.1 Listen to your pts
  • 1.2 Treat every pt with dignity and respect at all times
  • 1.3 Be honest and act with integrity
  • 1.4 Take a holistic and preventative approach to patient care which is appropriate to the individual patient
  • 1.5 Treat patients in a hygienic and safe environment
• Principle 1: Putting pts' interests first

  • Standards
  • You must
  • 1.6 Treat patients fairly, as individuals and without discrimination
  • 1.7 Put patients' interests before your own or those of any colleague, business or organisation
  • 1.8 Have appropriate arrangements in place for patients to seek compensation if they suffer harm
  • 1.9 Find out about laws and regulations that affect your work and follow them
• Principle 1: Putting pts' interests first

  • Guidance
  • Standard 1.1: You must listen to your patients
  • 1.1.1 You must discuss treatment options with patients and listen carefully to what they say. Give them the opportunity to have a discussion and to ask questions
• Principle 1: Putting pts' interests first

  • Guidance
  • Standard 1.2: You must treat every patient with dignity and respect at all times
  • 1.2.1 You should be aware of how your tone of voice and body language might be perceived
  • 1.2.2 You should take patients' preferences into account and be sensitive to their individual needs and values
  • 1.2.3 You must treat patients with kindness and compassion
  • 1.2.4 You should manage patients' dental pain and anxiety appropriately
• Principle 1: Putting pts' interests first

  • Guidance
  • Standard 1.3: You must be honest and act with integrity
  • 1.3.1 You must justify the trust that pts, the public & your colleagues place in you by always acting honestly and fairly. This applies to any business/education activities in which you are involved as well as your professional dealings
  • 1.3.2 You must make sure you don't bring the profession into disrepute
  • 1.3.3 You must make sure any advertising, promotional material or other info you produce is accurate & not misleading, and complies with the GDC's guidance on ethical advertising
• Other GDC guidance:

  • Guidance on advertising
  • Guidance on commissioning and manufacturing dental appliances
  • Guidance on indemnity
  • Guidance on prescribing medicines
  • Guidance on reporting criminal convictions
  • Guidance on using social media
  • Guidance on Child Protection and Vulnerable Adults
  • Scope of Practice