We are excited to introduce a new feature, brought to you by your Ethics Committee!
We know everyone is busy balancing the demands of dental practice, family, and personal life. Our goal is to offer an opportunity to pause, reflect, and engage with real-world ethical dilemmas that you may encounter in your own practice. Each installment will present a practical ethical scenario, along with a few questions to stimulate thought and discussion. We encourage you to read through the scenario and consider how you might approach the situation. Find a colleague to discuss your thoughts with, or join us at our next GMM, where we will continue the conversation over dinner. We also welcome submissions from our members! If you have encountered an ethical situation in your practice that you think would make for a meaningful discussion, please share it with the Ethics Committee. Your experiences can provide valuable learning opportunities for all of us. We look forward to learning from one another!
Ethical dilemma: The Informed Patient vs. The Professional Dentist Scenario:
A new patient comes into your dental practice having spent considerable time researching their dental condition and possible treatment on the internet and AI platforms. The patient arrives convinced that they understand their dental needs and have a very specific idea of how they want their treatment performed. As the dentist, you believe that some of the patient’s conclusions are incorrect, incomplete, or not appropriate for their individual clinical situation.
The ethical question:
How should a dentist balance respect for a patient’s autonomy and right to participate in treatment decisions with the dentist’s professional responsibility to provide treatment based on clinical judgment, evidence, and the patient’s best interests?
Questions for group discussion:
- Is a dentist ethically obligated to provide a treatment simply because an informed patient requests it, even when the dentist believes another approach is preferable?
- If a patient insists on a treatment plan that the dentist considers less appropriate, where is the line between respecting patient choice and practicing below the standard of care?
- Does a patient’s access to AI-generated dental information change the dentist’s responsibility to educate and guide that patient?