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Volume1 Issue5
CDA
at
W
ork
CDA
CODEOFETHICS:
the values we stand by
ThenewCDACodeof Ethicswill focuson the stableandenduring
values that underlie thepracticeof dentistry. “These fundamental
principlesdefine the integrityof our profession, serveas acornerstone
for dentists individuallyandcollectively, andconveyapromise to
societyof professional commitment to thehealthandwell-beingof
individual patients and thepublic,” saysDr. SusanSutherland, chair
of theCDACodeof EthicsWorkingGroupanddentist-in-chief at the
SunnybrookHealthSciencesCentre inToronto.
“Dentistsholda special positionof trustwithin society
andconsequentlyareaccordedahigh level of respect and
autonomy,” sheadds. “In return, thereexists aprofessional
obligation to society that themembersof our professionwill
adhere tohighethical standards.”
TheCodewill unitedentists fromcoast tocoast around
sharedvalues,without beinga legislativeor regulatory tool.
“Acodeof ethics ispart of abroader frameworkof ethical
practice that includes legislation, standardsof practice,
guidelines andpolicieswhichare found indocuments
producedby regulatorybodies, professional colleges and
relevant boards,” explainsDr. Sutherland. “Importantly, this
codeof ethicswill not beacodeof conduct; CDA’s role
isnot regulatory innature. In this sense, theCodewill be
aspirational,meaning itwill outline theethical commitments
that couldguideadentist’spracticeand towhichour
professioncouldaspire.”
Thedevelopment of theCodeof Ethics is acollaborative
effort between theCDACommitteeonClinical andScientific
Affairs and theTrust andValueWorkingGroupalongwith
ethicistshired for theproject. Inputwas alsoobtained from
thosedentistswhocompleted the survey in June2014and
fromcorporatemembers andother key stakeholderswho
shared their views inone-on-one interviewswith the
project’s lead researcher.
CDApublished its first codeof ethics in1902. Since the
document’s last revision in1999, various forceshave
continued to shape thedeliveryof oral healthcare in
Canada. “Thedevelopment of anewcodeof ethics
will enable theprofession toengage inadeliberate
reflectionanddialogue toconsider howcontemporarychallenges
intersectwithcollectiveand individual professional obligations,” sums
upDr. Sutherland.
ThenewCDACodeof Ethics is scheduled for release in2015.
a
CDA recently surveyedCanadian
dentists to help shape its newCode of
Ethics, which is intended to be an ethical
guide for the profession, rather than a
code of conduct.
TheCodewill beaspirational,meaning
itwill outline the ethical commitments
that could guide adentist’s practice
and towhich our profession could
aspire.
