CDA
at
W
ork
CDAPrinciples of Ethics:
AMORALCOMPASS
Dr.CecileBensimon
Dr. CecileBensimon, bioethicist anddirector of theofficeof ethics at the
CanadianMedical Association, led thecomprehensive reviewprocess that
culminated in thecreationof theCDAPrinciplesof Ethicsdocument. The
process included the reviewof existingcodesof ethics—bothnationallyand
internationally—, stakeholder engagementwithnational dentistry leaders, and
a surveyof all Canadiandentists. “TheCDAPrinciplesof Ethics area symbol of
theprofession: they showwhodentists areandwhat the
profession represents,” saysDr. Bensimon. “It is important
for society tounderstand theprinciples andvalues that the
professionaspires to.”
Dr. SusanSutherland, chair of theCDACodeof EthicsWorking
Groupanddentist-in-chief at theSunnybrookHealthSciences
Centre, echoesDr. Bensimon’sobservations. “TheCDAPrinciplesof Ethicsdefine
the integrityof our profession, serveas acornerstone for dentists individuallyand
collectively, andconveyapromise to societyof professional commitment to the
healthandwell-beingof individual patients and thepublic.”
It isDr. Bensimon’shope that theCDAPrinciplesof Ethics lead toanongoing
conversation. “Thenext stepwouldbe to seehowwecan implement the
principles inpracticebyprovidingdentistswithdecision-making tools to
help themnavigate through theethical issues that they face inpractice,”
sheconcludes.
a
CDA recently
released itsnew
Principles ofEthics, a
landmarkdocument
thathighlights the
profession’s collective
and individual
obligations, and serves
as an ethical guide for
everydaypractice.
Watchan interview
withDr. CecileBensimonat
