Dental Ethics and Law in India

As dentistry moved into the twenty- first century the attention to ethics would have to be even greater. Nowadays ethical standards in modern dentistry are in a tempo with rapid advance. Learning to handle practical ethics issues and developing one¿s professional identity are essential steps in becoming a good dentist. The core issues in dental ethics are the ethics of the dentist patient relationship, patient¿s confidentiality, and the need to obtain informed consent. Although law and ethics have similarities, law may be better defined as the sum total of rules and regulations by which a society is governed. Healthcare malpractice can be challenged under two main categories in the court of law, that is, civil and criminal depending on the nature of offence. A third category lies under Consumer Protection Act (CPA), 1986, where professional services provided by the dentist can be challenged. Records are the most important factors needed to prevail in the lawsuit. Therefore, there is a need for oral health professionals to update their understanding on Ethics, informed consent, CPA and its amendments and professional indemnity insurance.