Adams School of Dentistry: Code of Professional Conduct

Introduction

The UNC Adams School of Dentistry calls upon faculty, staff and students to follow high ethical standards which keep the best interest of the patient as their primary goal. To fulfill this goal we expect these high ethical standards to be practiced both during the dental educational programs here at the University of North Carolina and during the dental professional’s career.

The UNC Adams School of Dentistry believes dental professionals should possess not only knowledge, skill, and technical competence but also character traits that foster adherence to ethical principles. The ethical principles listed below constitute the Code of Professional Conduct and are part of the ethical education of a dental professional and practice of dentistry that define the true professional. These ethical principles establish concise standards of behavior to guide the public’s expectations of our profession. Every dental professional should strive to provide care based on these ethical principles regardless of gender, race, creed, religion, national origin, disability or sexual orientation. Furthermore, each dental professional shall conduct himself/herself in like manner with staff, colleagues and the public at large.

The UNC Adams School of Dentistry believes a dental professional should strive to do that which is right and good. The UNC Adams School of Dentistry Code of Professional Conduct is an instrument to help the dental professional in this pursuit of excellence.

School Motto

Veritas, Beneficus, Officium (truth, good, service)

Code of Professional Conduct

1. Autonomy - The dental professional shall recognize that patients have a right to determine what should be done with their own bodies.
2. Beneficence - The dental professional is obligated to benefit others and to do good.
3. Non-maleficence - The dental professional is to refrain from doing harm to patients.
4. Compassion - The dental professional is to care for and to identify with the patient’s overall well-being.
5. Competence - The dental professional is to diagnose, promote oral health, treat the patient’s oral health needs and refer to another competent dental professional when it is in the patient’s best interest. The dental professional is to remain current in his/her knowledge with the goal of providing the best care for patients.
6. Integrity - The dental professional is to behave with honor, decency and consistency.
7. Justice - The dental professional shall give to each patient his or her due while balancing the benefits and burdens of doing so.
8. Professionalism - The dental professional shall provide all patients with the best services possible of which he/she is capable and act as a public servant to the community in health matters.
9. Respect - The dental professional is to value the worth of others.
10. Tolerance - The dental professional shall recognize and respect cultural differences, understanding how these affect patient choices and treatment.

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