eGDCPrinciple 1: Treat patients with respect
Treat patients with dignity and support them to make informed decisions about their care
Ways this is demonstrated in practice include:
- Being clear, patient, empathetic, and polite with your patients
- Keeping patient information confidential and respecting patients’ privacy. Read our case study on using social media responsibly
- Being aware that some patients are anxious or afraid of dental treatment and how you behave or speak to them may affect the likelihood of them seeking oral healthcare in the future
- Having a clear policy for managing complaints that empowers patients to give feedback about their care and have confidence that their concerns are listened to
- Communicating clearly with patients about their treatment options, including costs, in a way they understand
- Recognising and supporting patients who are vulnerable, including those who may not be able to provide consent themselves, and those who require reasonable adjustments to be made for their care
- Treating patients as individuals and not making assumptions about them based on how they look or their background
- Making sure that you give patients a clear explanation of the proposed treatment and obtain valid consent before starting a course of treatment and at each stage of treatment