STANDARD 3: Organizational Ethics

3.1 General 

1.The dental organization shall establish a framework and procedure for administering a set of ethical principles or code of conduct.

2.The dental organization shall comply with all national and local standards addressing ethical conduct. These shall include any other requirements to which the dental organization subscribes including those within this set of standards. When national and other requirements address the same issue, the provision which is most stringent applies.

3. Ethical principles addressed shall include but are not limited to: a) confidentiality of patient and personnel information;

 b) avoidance of conflicts of interest;

 c) establishment of a complaints process; 

d) judgmental objectivity; 

e) staff awareness of the dental organization’s ethical concerns; 

f) appropriate billing for services rendered;

g) a policy to prevent and/or correct potential financial conflicts relating to patient care; 

h) truthful and accurate marketing information; 

i) a process to define timely and immediate steps to resolve ethical issues.

NOTE 1 Examples of ethical consideration described in 3.1.3.above may include but are not limited to:

a) appropriate informed consent according to national law; 

b) awareness and adherence to conditions of an advance directive (AD); 

c) conduction of procedures and processes beyond the scope and resource of the dental organization;

d) contemplated care in conflict with patient stated will without consulting appropriately patient or family as indicated. Ad hoc individuals may be appointed for ethics question resolution as determined by Managing Director and other individuals as necessary. The dental organization shall also consider the principles of the following international instruments when developing their code of ethics: 

a) Universal Declaration of Human Rights; 

b) ILO Conventions 100 and 111 (Equal remuneration for male and female workers for work of equal value; Discrimination); 

c) ILO Convention 155 & Recommendation 164 (Occupational Safety & Health); 

d) ILO Convention 159 (Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment/Disabled Persons).

3.2 Discrimination and Work Environment

1. The dental organization shall not engage in or support discrimination in hiring, remuneration, access to training, promotion, termination, or retirement based on race, national origin, religion, disability, gender, sexual orientation, or age.

2. The dental organization shall not allow behavior including gestures, language, physical contact, or other activity that is intimidating, sexually coercive, threatening, abusive, or exploitative.

3. The dental organization shall address employee awareness, on-going training, and investigation of harassment issues, as well as management of a violence prevention program. It shall also ensure a confidential grievance procedure for all employees.

NOTE 1 The dental organization shall maintain an environment free of behavior or physical activity detrimental to the achievement of its intended products and services. However, the expectation of individual performance as defined by their job description shall not be diminished by improper or manipulative use of this standard.