Dental hygiene is a regulated healthcare profession. In Ontario, the College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario (CDHO) regulates dental hygienists, ensuring public safety by setting regulations and guidelines that dental hygienists must follow.A� The code of ethics was established to guide dental hygienists in their practice and meet the requirements of the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 (RHPA) and the Dental Hygiene Act, 1991 (DHA).
There are five principles of the CDHO code of ethics are (CDHO n.d., p.3):
1.PRINCIPLE I: BENEFICENCE
Involves caring about and promoting the good of another Dental hygienists use their knowledge and skills to assist clients to achieve and maintain optimal oral health and to promote fair and reasonable access to quality care.
2.PRINCIPLE II: AUTONOMY
Pertains to the right to make one’s own choices By communicating relevant information openly and truthfully, dental hygienists assist clients to make informed choices and to participate actively in achieving and maintaining optimal oral health.
3.PRINCIPLE III: PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY
Privacy pertains to a persona’s right to control the collection, use and disclosure of personal information; the right to access and correct inaccurate information; and the right to expect that the information is kept secure. Confidentiality is the duty to hold secret any information acquired in the professional relationship. Dental hygienists respect the privacy of clients and hold in confidence the information disclosed to them, subject to certain narrowly defined exceptions.
4.PRINCIPLE IV: ACCOUNTABILITY
Pertains to the acceptance of responsibility for ones actions and omissions in light of relevant principles, standards, laws, regulations and the potential to self-evaluate and to be evaluated accordingly. Dental hygienists practise competently in conformity with relevant principles, standards, laws, and the regulations under the RHPA, 1991 and DHA, 1991 and accept responsibility for their behaviour and decisions in the professional context.
5.PRINCIPLE V: PROFESSIONALISM
Is the commitment to use and advance professional knowledge and skills to serve the client and the public good. Dental hygienists express their professional commitment individually in their practice and communally through the CDHO and their participation in the CDHO Quality Assurance Program.
Reference: College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario (n.d.). CDHO Code of Ethics. Accessed from:http://www.cdho.org/Reference/English/CodeofEthics.pdf#zoom=75
