eGDCPrinciple 1: Treat patients with respect
Treat your patients with dignity and compassion, supporting them to make informed decisions about their care.
There are many ways that you can demonstrate that you are treating patients with respect. Below we have highlighted some expectations regarding respect. It is important to recognise that this is not a complete list.
As a dental professional, you are expected to:
- Treat patients as individuals and do not make assumptions about them based on how they look or their background.
- Be clear, patient, empathetic, kind, respectful, and polite with your patients.
- Work with patients to make shared decisions about their care, ensuring they understand and keeping their needs at the centre of decision making.
- Communicate clearly with patients in a way they understand about relevant treatment options, including the associated costs, risks, and benefits, and keep their preferences central to decision-making throughout their care.
- Provide patients with a clear explanation and rationale of the proposed care, obtaining valid consent before commencing care, and at each stage of treatment.
- Ensure that patients understand who is involved in providing their care, including their role within the dental team.
- Identify and support vulnerable patients, including those who may not be able to provide consent themselves, and those who require reasonable adjustments to be made for their care.
- Be 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.
- Manage complaints using a clear and accessible policy that empowers patients to give feedback about their care, and ensure that you listen to, learn from, and respond to that feedback.
- Keep patient information confidential and respect patients’ privacy.