Utilitarianism And Rule-Deontology: Case Study

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I will be responding to Case A where I will apply the theories of act-utilitarianism and rule-deontology. Rule-deontology states dental therapists are subscribed to definite rules and legislation which should be adhered to in order to be “good” and moral practitioners (Kimbrough-Walls & Lautar, 2012). These rules are independent of their predicted consequence instead, their “rightness and wrongness” is dependent on its conformity to rules (Ozolins & Grainger, 2015). In accordance to rules established in Right Six and Seven of the Health and Disability Commissions (HDC) Code of Rights, there is an expectation of dental therapists to ensure patients are fully informed and can give informed consent (HDC, 1996). Therefore, it is the duty of the dental therapist to ensure this protocol is followed to respect the autonomy of the patient and their parents. To do so, you must provide patients with the knowledge required to make an informed choice (Ozolins & Grainger, 2015). Informed consent requires the competency or capacity to understand the proposed treatment and make decisions reflective of their values, principles and beliefs …show more content…
Outlined in the Ethical Standard Framework for Oral Health Professionals, dental therapists must provide “good care” and “put the patient's interests first” (Dental Council New Zealand, 2016). I believe, practicing in the best interest of the patient would involve demonstrating non-maleficence. It is the duty of the health professional to protect the patient from harm in all situations permissible (Kimbrough-Walls & Lautar, 2012). Therefore, deontology argues, to knowingly allow decays progression to a dental abscess is an obvious negligence to the standards under which you practice (Ozolins & Grainger, 2015 ). Therefore, a proposal to register children with consent for future dental care prevents treatment delays thus patients interests are