Code of Medical Ethics: Relationship between practitioners

Code of Medical Ethics: Relationship between practitioners

I- Introduction – Definition  : (Arts. 1 and 2 )

– Medical ethics is the set of principles, rules and practices that every doctor, dentist and pharmacist must observe or draw inspiration from in the exercise of their profession.

– The provisions of the code of medical ethics apply to any doctor, dental surgeon, pharmacist or student of medicine, dental surgery or pharmacy, authorized to practice the profession under the conditions provided for by the legislation and regulations in force.

II- The duty of brotherhood  : (Arts. 59 – 66) 

1. Brotherhood is a primary duty among dentists. It must be exercised in the interest of patients and the profession.

Dentists must maintain good fellowship among themselves and create feelings of loyalty, esteem and trust.

2. Dentists must show human solidarity. They owe each other moral assistance. It is good fellowship to defend a colleague who has been unjustly attacked.
3. A dentist who has a professional dispute with a colleague must seek conciliation, if necessary through a member of the competent regional professional association.
4. It is forbidden to slander a colleague, to speak ill of him or to echo remarks capable of harming him in the exercise of his profession.
5. It is good fellowship for a newly established dentist to pay a courtesy visit to his colleagues practicing in the same structure or established nearby.
6. The debasement of fees by the practice of discounts or flat rates, for the purpose of competition is prohibited. The dentist is free, however, to provide his care free of charge.
7. It is customary for a dentist, in his professional activities, to provide free care to a colleague or to his dependents, to students of medical sciences, to staff in his service and to his direct collaborators.
8. Misappropriation and attempted misappropriation of customers are prohibited.

III- Relations between doctors and between dental surgeons  : (art. 67-76)

1. The dentist, called to assist a patient being treated by a colleague, must respect the following rules:

• If the patient intends to change dentist, he provides treatment;
• If the patient simply wanted to seek advice without changing dentist, he suggests a joint consultation; if the patient refuses, he gives his opinion and, if necessary, the necessary care; in agreement with the patient, he informs the treating dentist; 
• If the patient has called another colleague due to the absence of his or her treating dentist, the latter must provide treatment during this absence, cease it upon the return of the treating dentist and give the latter, in agreement with the patient, all useful information.

If the patient refuses, he must inform him of the consequences that this refusal may entail.

2. In his office, the dentist can see all patients whether or not they have a treating colleague. 

If he is consulted in his office by a patient without the knowledge of his treating dentist, he must, after the patient’s agreement, try to contact the treating colleague in order to exchange information and share their observations and conclusions with each other.

3. The dentist must propose a consultation with a colleague as soon as circumstances require it. He must accept a consultation requested by the patient or by his entourage. In both cases, the dentist proposes the consulting colleague he considers the most qualified, but he must take into account the wishes of the patient and accept any colleague authorized to practice and registered on the register. He is responsible for organizing the modalities of the consultation.

If the dentist does not believe that he should give his approval to the choice expressed by the patient or his entourage, he has the possibility of withdrawing and does not owe anyone an explanation for his withdrawal.

4. When, during a consultation, the opinions of the treating dentist and their consulting colleagues differ profoundly, the patient must be informed of this. 

The treating dentist is free to stop his treatment if the opinion of the consulting colleague prevails with the patient or his family.

5. A dentist who has been called for a consultation must not, on his own initiative, return to the patient being examined jointly in the absence of the treating dentist or without his approval during the illness which gave rise to the consultation.
6. A consulting dentist must not, unless the patient wishes , continue treatment required by the patient’s state of health, when this treatment is the responsibility of the treating dentist.
7. When several colleagues collaborate in the examination or treatment of the same patient, each of the colleagues assumes his personal responsibilities.

On the other hand, the assistant(s) chosen by the dentist work under their control and responsibility.

8. The general dentist can only be replaced by general practitioner colleagues. The specialist dentist can only be replaced by colleagues in the same specialty or by a final-year resident in the same specialty.

Colleagues who are replaced must inform, without delay, the professional sections to which they belong, indicating the name and position of the replacement as well as the date and duration of the replacement.

9. Once the replacement is complete and continuity of care is ensured, the replacement must cease all activity related to the replacement.
10. Dentists must, in the interest of patients, maintain courteous and benevolent relations with medical auxiliaries and members of other health professions; they must respect their professional independence.

IV- Bibliographic reference 

The code of medical ethics: Executive Decree No. 92/276 of 06/07/1992.

Untreated cavities can damage the pulp.
Orthodontics aligns teeth and jaws.
Implants replace missing teeth permanently.
Dental floss removes debris between teeth.
A visit to the dentist every 6 months is recommended.
Fixed bridges replace one or more missing teeth.
 

Code of Medical Ethics: Relationship between practitioners