Want to date a patient? Refer first
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Date
2015
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
South African Dental Association
Abstract
In dentistry, the dentist - patient interaction often
represents a long-term, close personal relationship that
involves friendship as well as professional responsibility. A
professional (the dentist) has two interests to consider in
any professional interpersonal dentist - patient relationship:
the patient's and his or her own. The dentist has a duty to
place the patient's best interest (welfare) before his or her
own interests. The profession and society expect dentists
to exercise superior knowledge and expertise and their
professional judgment to promote the best interests of
their patients. Dentists should not use their position of
influence to solicit or develop romantic relationships with
patients. The Health Professions Council of South Africa
views sexual contact between health professionals and
patients as unethical, legally perilous and as a cause for
professional discipline. It is often viewed by the public as
an outrageous transgression. The ethical considerations
of personal relationships with patients are addressed
in the HPCSA guidelines to good practice, Section 5.2
'Respect for Patients', which states that health care
practitioners should "Avoid improper relations with their
patients, their patients' friends and their patients' family
members (for example, sexual relationships or exploitative
financial agreements)".
Description
Keywords
Ethics, Dental ethics, Patients
Citation
Naidoo, S. (2015). Want to date a patient? Refer first. South African Dental Journal, 70(5): 222