Ethical Issues in Dentistry

Radition Scare

Exposure to Radiation in dentist office is a major concern for parents with little children. While exposure of this kind can be harmful for anyone, its unregulated use in treatment of younger patients is especially alarming. In this article the author highlights the issue of unrelated radiation use in dental offices and one wonders if this is an ethical or business issue.

We can classify this as an ethical issue because even if others are unaware, dentists should be aware of the problems posed by exposure to radiation. If they are, it's even more alarming since that exposes their ignorance. We can assume that they are well aware since they have studied medicine and they are regularly updated about dangers of new technologies. What is however unfortunate is the fact that dentists continue to use X-rays and even some other outdated technologies which emit high radioactive rays and still they do not let the parents make a wiser decision about their child's treatment. It is an ethical issue because it raises serious ethical concerns as it exposes children to the risk of radioactive rays and unfortunately it is done without parents" knowledge.

The Hippocratic Oath clearly states that doctors will not do anyone any harm on purpose. But in the case of radiation scare, it appears that doctors are exposing children to radiation even though they are aware of the problems that excessive exposure can create for young patients.

Above all do no harm is a principle that clearly states the ethical standpoint of medicine. Doctors in all their positions are required to provide service without hurting the patient on purpose. The do no harm principle is a patient centered philosophy which makes patient the most important center of service. In any case, he or she must be treated with utmost care and dignity and should not be exposed to any unnecessary risks and danger. However all that appears to have no impact on dental services since they are still exposing children to radiation…sometimes when it's not even needed.

A reasonable person would want to be aware of the risks that radiation poses to the health and life of a patient. For this reason, parental consent in very important in all dentist services where exposure to radiation is a possibility. For example when an x-ray is being taken, it is important to let the parents know what radiation does and how excessive amount of it can affect a child's health and life.

Kantianism is based on the principle of "Categorical Imperative" which suggests that an action is wrong if a person wouldn't want it to become a universally accepted course of action under similar circumstances. "Act only on that maxim through which you can at the same time wills that it becomes a universal law" (Morals, p. xii). Categorical imperative applies when a person chooses a course of action not due to lack of alternatives but unconditionally as if that was the only course of action that deemed right and suitable to him.

Keeping this view in mind, we can apply it the radiation scare case and see how it related to the ethics framework. Will the doctors using this technology want the same technology used on their own children and with same frequency? If the answer is yes, then according to Kantian categorical imperative, the radiation exposure is necessary and cannot be avoided. The doc tors cannot thus be accused of unethical behavior.

However if the answer is No then they are clearly doing something wrong and not in accordance with the Hippocratic Oath. In the modern version of the Oath, we find this statement, "I will apply, for the benefit of the sick, all measures [that] are required, avoiding those twin traps of overtreatment and therapeutic nihilism." It appears that excessive exposure to radiation would fall under the concept of overtreatment and it is regarded as something wrong in the Oath and should thus be avoided.

Another important framework to apply here is utilitarian which states that if an action is meant to promote the happiness of the largest number of people then it is a correct action. We see here that dentists are doing everything with one thing in kind: to get the best diagnosis possible. While their action in this regard definitely increases happiness of the largest number, what about the consequences. Do the consequences also make people happy? We would say no because excessive exposure to radiation can cause many problems for the patients in the long run and hence certainly do not leave them very happy. This means that while in the short run, it might make people happy as they best the most reliable diagnosis, in the long run, it can be dangerous.

Some key ethical problems that we find in this situation are as follows:

1. Excessive use of radiation even for minor procedures

2. Parental consent is not taken

3. Parents are not aware of the dangers associated with radiation exposure

4. New technologies emitting radiation are being used even when they can be avoided

The Healthcare system all over the world is regulated by standardized laws and regulations that enable the correct implementation of healthcare services. The purpose of these laws and regulations is to also ensure that certain standards are maintained in the healthcare systems all over the world. In this regard, governmental agencies tend to work together to develop certain laws and regulations so that they tend to serve as guiding principles for various governments and organizations. The laws pertaining to the healthcare systems are varying and they tend to be on the following elements:

Privacy of health information

Protection regarding human research

Standards for Health IT

Food & Drug policies

Civil and privacy rights

Fraud prevention and detection

Medical and Healthcare provision

Freedom of Information and Privacy Act

Medical Aid

Employment regulations

Acquisition Regulations

The World Health Organization has set up certain International Health Regulations that serve to protect, prevent, control and provide a public health response when certain diseases spread internationally. However, these laws are related not to specific diseases but generally imply towards certain health risks so that diseases are not spread internationally (Pauker, Zane, Salem, 2005). However, the elements mentioned above are very important in imparting safe health practices which are needed by all patients. Therefore, every government has certain health regulatory bodies that enable the efficiency that is needed in this regard. These governmental health regulatory bodies tend to serve as pivot points upon which the policies, laws and regulations are imposed on the public and private healthcare provision agencies that are functioning in that organization. Other than these regulations, certain international standards are defined, considering the elements mentioned above, so that the process of regulating healthcare is standardized. For this reason, it is very important to implement safe health practices which are needed by all patients. Therefore, every government has certain health regulatory bodies that enable the efficiency that is needed in this regard. These governmental health regulatory bodies tend to serve as pivot points upon which the policies, laws and regulations are imposed on the public and private healthcare provision agencies that are functioning in that organization.