Ethical Issues in Dentistry

Drs. Henry Lee and Jim Jones were friends and partners in a general dental practice that started in the late 1980s. Both men enjoyed their practice and their patients, but Dr. Lee was experiencing frustrations and fewer satisfactions. His marriage was crumbling, and the pressures associated with starting divorce proceedings were taking its toll. To alleviate these tensions and to allow him to stay more focused on his patients' care, Dr. Lee started using amphetamines and Valium.

While in dental school, Dr. Lee started using alcohol and drugs, mostly for recreational use. As long as he used it in moderation, Dr. Lee believed that there was no problem and that he remained in control. When finals arrived, Dr. Lee was introduced to amphetamines, which helped him burn the midnight oil while studying for his exams. He could stay up for days, and after the exams he would crash for a day, recuperating. He attributed this to a normal reaction to his staying awake for extended periods of time. After his graduation and upon joining the group practice with his friend Dr. Jones, who was a fellow student at the dental school where Dr. Lee graduated, Dr. Lee continu

. . .
ed into two other principles, namely maleficence and beneficence. Nonmaleficence holds that "an action is wrong insofar as it inflicts harm on others" (Rule 53). This principle is commonly thought to be the cornerstone of the Hippocratic Oath and has led to numerous patients' bill of rights (Cole 559; Nash 597; Woodall 100-103). Frankena (Chapter 1) views nonmaleficence as a subdivision of beneficence. He believes that the rules of beneficence require that one ought not to inflict evil or harm, ought to prevent evil or harm, ought to remove evil, and ought to do or promote good (Rule 54). The beneficence part of the principles of ethics apply in this case, because Dr. Lee is committed to provide the best treatment possible to his patients. In fact, he has made a judgment call to provide care to more patients in pain by using stimulants. The second part deals with nonmaleficence, which is a continuum that extends from doing no harm to the prevention and the removal of harm and the doing of good. This principle applies in that, while Dr. Lee continues to do good by treating his patients, his condition also puts his patients at risk by not preventing the possibility of his inflicting harm to his patients, his partner, the p
. . .

Some common words found in the essay are:
Dr Lee, Dr Jones, Dr Lee's, Rule Veatch, Dr Jones', Frankena Chapter, dr lee, , Hippocratic Oath, Medical Association, Jim Jones, dr jones, dr lee's, patients partner, substance abuse, ethical principles, dr jones', dr lee started, ethical questions, principle involved, drug dependence, confront dr lee, evil harm ought, ethical questions arise, hidden patients partner,
Approximate Word count = 1927
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page)

More Essays on Ethical Issues in Dentistry