Revised Code of Ethics 2008

Dr. Maria Arlissa D. Aguiluz

University of the Philippines Manila
Legal basis

● R.A. 9484 Article IV Section 25

– “The Board (of Dentistry) shall adopt
and promulgate the Code of Ethics
and Code of Dental Practice of
dentists, dental hygienists and dental
technologists prescribed and issued
by the accredited professional
organization of dentists.”
Legal basis
● October 2007 - PDA House of

Delegates Summit
● November 2007 - Revised Code of

Ethics from Summit was submitted

to PRC Board of Dentistry
● PRC Board Resolution No. 14 series

of 2008
● Approved July 17, 2008
 Article I
DUTY TO THE COMMUNITY

SECTION 1: PRIMARY DUTY OF

DENTIST
● Public service
● Best professional service and

manner
● Follow the standards of care
Standard of care

● “ Written statement describing rules,

actions and conditions that direct patient
care. It is used to guide practice and
evaluate performance.”

● Mosby's Dental Dictionary 2004

Standard of care

● “ the level of care that reasonably

prudent health care providers in the
same or similar locality would provide
under similar circumstances”

● Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry 2003

Standard of care
● “ refers to the quality of the nature and
manner of delivery of the dental service
as established by the “Tripartite
Council”, subject to mandatory review
and revision if needed by the council
every three (3) years or as the need
arises.”
● RR of RA 9484, Rule 1 Section 4 (w)
Tripartite Council

● Board of Dentistry (government)

● Deans of Dental Colleges (academe)

● Accredited professional organization of

dentists, dental hygienists and dental

technologists (profession)
 Section 2
EMERGENCY SERVICE

● Provide ONLY THE EMERGENCY

service

● Return the patient to the original

dentist after the emergency
 Section 3
DELEGATION OF SERVICE
● Do not delegate tasks that need your
professional competence

● Only duly licensed dentists and

dental hygienists should be
employed
Delegation of service

● Dental hygienists should only do

tasks specified by RA 9484 like:
● Scaling & polishing

● Impression

● Oral hygiene education

● Flouride therapy

● Take radiograph
Delegation of service

● Dentist is responsible for all

activities of personnel in his/her
employ during duty hours.
 Section 4
SUPERVISION OF WORK

● Dentist must supervise associates

and auxiliaries while they are
performing their duties.
 Section 5
PROFESSIONAL FEES
● It is the dentist who determines the
fees:
● Nature of the case

● Expertise involved

● Efforts and skills needed

● Materials to be used
Professional fees

● Dentist must discuss treatment plan

with the patient.

● Alternative treatment plans and fees

must be presented.
 Section 6
IRREPROACHABLE CONDUCT

● Dentist's manner must be

COMPLETELY above suspicion or
reproach.
Irreproachable conduct

● Dentist's name should not be used to

legitimize questionable activities.
Irreproachable conduct

● Do not allow your name or licence

number to be used by illegal
practitioners.
Irreproachable conduct

● Do not give certifications without due

basis.
 Section 7
DISCOVERIES OF WORK
● The dentist must share his
discoveries and inventions that are
beneficial to public health and
safety.
Discoveries of work

● The discoveries and works must be

shared based on government
regulations.
● Ex: new drug – must secure

BFAD approval first

 Section 8
ORAL HEALTHCARE PROGRAM
● The dentist must volunteer for
programs to deliver oral health
services to needy communities.
● Underserved

● Unserved
 Section 9
LEADERSHIP
● Dentist as community leader:
● Involved in community affairs

● Active participant in local oral

health events
● Opinion leader
 Section 10
BIOETHICS
● RESEARCH ETHICS
● Dentist as researcher
● Conflict of interest

–Undue influence of dentist over

patient
–Dentist's role as oral health care
giver
–Dentist's role as researcher
bioethics

● Dentist-researcher must
– Conform to international ethical
standards
– Obtain research approval by
Ethics Review Board
bioethics

● Obligations to the patient (research

participant)
– Minimize risks
– Maximize benefits
– Obtain written informed consent
– Uphold human rights and dignity at
all times
 Section 11
Records keeping
● Baseline medical and dental records
must be kept for all patients.
● Records: treatment plan, progress

notes, radiographs, blood tests,

consent forms, medical clearance
Records keeping

● Patient records must be kept for ten

(10) years.
● Records are confidential.

● Court order for patient records must

specify what records will be

revealed by the dentist.
 Section 12
DENTAL WASTE MANAGEMENT
● Responsibility towards environment
● Disposal of
● Pathologic waste : segregation technique

● Mercury

● Plastics

● Sharps

● Radiographic film, wrapper, developer,

fixer
 Article II
DUTY TO THE PROFESSION
● SECTION 13: Keeping professionally
fit
● The professional status of dentist is

dependent on his degree of knowledge,

skill, attitude and efficiency.
13.1 CONTINUING
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
● CPE COUNCIL of PRC must recognize
and accredit the continuing education
programs of the PDA and other
accredited CPE providers
Who are the accredited CPE
providers?
● Under Rules and Regulations of RA
9484, Rule 1 section 4 (h):
● Accredited specialty groups

● Accredited chapters and

societies of the PDA

● Accredited International groups

of academicians
13.2 Continuing Professional
Development Credits
● “Every dentist shall complete a
minimum of 60 Continuing Education
Credit units every three (3) years prior
to renewal of PRC Identification card,
provided that the nature of the CPE
programs conforms to the advance
competency program of the CPE
Council.”
13.3 Preceptorship

● Board of Dentistry – regulatory function

● Venue of training (RA 9484)

– CHED recognized school

– Training hospital recognized by DOH
13.4 Specialty group

● Must apply for accreditation to BOD

● Must accredit its members accd to PRC

rules
● Provide specialty training

● Accredit training programs

● Assist the BOD

13.4 Specialty group

● Establish its own council

● Police its own ranks

● Protect the public against substandard

treatment in the specialty

13.5 Evidences of Professional
Credentials
● Must display in clinic
● Dentist's dental school diploma

● Certificate of registration

● Training residency

● Certificate of Profiency issued by

the specialty council

13.5 evidences of professional
credentials

● In other clinics of same dentist/owner

● Certified true copy of diploma and

PRC registration must be displayed.

13.5 evidences of prof credentials

● Display only in private office, not in

reception or operatory area:
● Plaques

● Testimonials

● Certificates of appreciation
 Section 14
DUTY TO REPORT
● Dentist must report violations of
● RA 9484

● Rules and Regulations of RA 9484

● Revised Code of Ethics

to Chapter, Specialty group, BOD or

PRC
 Section 15
PROFESSIONAL
CONSULTATION AND REFERRAL
● Dentist must consult and refer to
specialist if case requires expertise
beyond his present level of skill.
● Specialist must return patient to

referring dentist after case management.

● Patient consent must be obtained.
 Section 16
Transfer of patients
● When to endorse patients to other dentist
● Transfer or closure of dental clinic

● Migration of dentist to foreign land

● Request of patient

● Termination of healthy relationship

between dentist and patient

Transfer of patients

● Proper release of patient records

● Certification of release

● Extent of work done on patient

● Obligation/s of other dentist

● Obligation/s of patient
 Section 17
Professional Opinion /Testimony

● “ The dentist shall institute corrective

treatment in case of faulty management
by another dentist without unnecessary
criticism.”
17.1 Justifiable Criticism

● “Every dentist shall report to the

appropriate authority or professional
society, instances of gross and
continual faulty treatment by another
dentist.”
17.2 Responsible Comments

● Limit comments to the specific case

● Do not criticize other dentists in

presence of a patient
17.3 Expert testimony

● The dentist rendering expert

testimony in litigations shall limit
comments to the case and avoid
undue criticism.
● Undue criticism – tend to defame or

discredit others
 Section 18
Performance of Obligations

● Dentist must honor all obligations made

with other persons, financing institutions
and other entities
● To preserve the prestige of Dentistry
 Section 19
Testimonials

● A dentist or any association of dentists

shall not give direct testimonials or
endorsement of oral care products.
 ARTICLE III
Practice Management

● Section 20. Building a dental practice.

● Behave professionally when you are

establishing or promoting your practice.

20.1 Fair means to build practice

● Do not injure the opportunities of other

dentists.
● False claims of skill

● Numerous signages

● Size of signages and letterings

● Unethical advertisement on internet

20.2. Title of the practice

● Terms allowed
● “clinic” “Infirmary”
● “Office” “Center”
● “Hospital”
Title of the practice

● Avoid commercialized names

● The name should maintain the dignity of

the profession.
20.3 Soliciting patients

● Dentist shall not solicit patients

personally or employ patients, agents
and agencies to solicit patients for him.
Soliciting patients

● Dentist must not accept or offer rebates

or receive commissions for referrals.

● Dentist must not engage in commercial

activity that degrades the profession.
 Section 21
AUTHORIZED ADVERTISING
● “The best and honorable means by
which the dentist may make known
and advance his reputation... is
through his professional services...”
21.1 Signages

● Must include
● Name of the dentist

● Clinic days and hours

● Nature of the dental practice

signages
● What are considered signages?
● Indoor and outdoor billboards

● Streamers

● Calling card

● Stationeries

● Office doors

● Signboards

● Directory board
Signages

● Size of the lettering

● Should follow local government

code e.g. 8 cm x 8 cm
● On the building directory, same

size of lettering used by other

tenants
signages
● Must NOT include :
● “x-ray”

● “Gas”

● “air abrasive”

● “air conditioned”

● “ dental laboratory”

● “trained in USA, etc.”

● “board topnotcher”
21.2 Use of professional titles and
degrees
● The PRC allows the use of the following
titles and academic degrees with the
name or signature:
● “Doctor”

● “Dentist”

● “DDS”

● “DDM” or “DMD”

● “MS”
21.3 Professional stationery

● These are the approved ways to identify

yourself as a dentist:
● Calling card

● Letterhead

● Telephone directory

● Electronically generated

communication
Calling cards
● Use traditional size and type only
● Data included:

● Dentist's name

● Academic degree

● Nature of practice

● physical/electronic address

● Clinic hours

● Landline and cell phone numbers

Specialists' calling cards

● If the dentist confines himself to the

practice of a specialty, the words
“PRACTICE IS LIMITED TO...” may
be included and nothing more.
 Section 22
ANNOUNCEMENT
● Newspaper announcement allowed:

● When opening new clinic

● Changing location
● Limiting practice to specialty
Newspaper, website announcement

● Size : 2 column inches by 2 column

inches
● Duration: 30 days from the date of

opening
Announcement cards

● When allowed:
● Change in location of practice

● Change to specialty

to whom: other dentists

other health professionals
patients of record
 Penalty for violation of
Code of Ethics
● Section 22 of RR of RA 9484:
● The Board can suspend or revoke

the certificate of registration and

professional ID card for:
● Unprofessional and unethical

conduct
● False advertisements
“Ethics is what separates the
behaviour of MAN from that of
BEASTS...”

-Anonymous
In the service of the Philippine
Dental Association

MARAMING SALAMAT PO!