Philomena C is your first patient of the morning. SHe was born in Italy, and moved to the united states with her family when she was 10. She is a 60 year old homemaker, who appears slightly overweight, and admits to high blood pressure and high cholesterol, both controlled by medication. She has been a patient in the practice of your dentist’s sister, Dr. Lynne, who has an office across town, for the last 30 years. She recently decided to change dental practices as our office is near her residence. Philomena has been faithful with her recall vitis and has followed all the treatments that Dr. Lynee and the various hygienist have suggested during her years as a patient in the practice, inducing routine radiographs. You begin probing and Philomena questions what you are doing. She states that “no one has ever done that to her teeth and gums” and quite frankly finds it very uncomfortable. Philomena says that she thought her oral health could be evaluated by the “full set of x-rays” that she received every few years. Your clinical exam reveal that Philomena presents with generalized tooth mobility and early furcation involvement, especially on the maxillary molars. Her probe readings are generalized 4 to 6mm in the posterior sextants. She assumed that her mouth was in good health and is shocked to find out otherwise.
What ethical principles are in conflict in this dilemma?
What is the best way for you to handle this ethical dilemma?
What is the best way to address/discuss Philomena’s treatment plan?
The major ethical principle here to be concerned is the patient's earlier visit was with densit's sister concern.Now disclosing the patient status can even affect the genuinity of the treatment offered by this dentist. It can create a sense of mistrust on the concern as well as the dentist.
The best way to handle this ethical dilemma is explaining the patient about the condition .Decision has to be made firmly either not affect the sister concern as well as winning confidence of the patient.
Some of the ways to explain the treatment plan to the payient are
Philomena C is your first patient of the morning. SHe was born in Italy, and moved...
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