Professionalism Section B: to be aware and understand the GDC standards guidance

GDS01 Competency:

B. To be aware and understand the requirements of the GDC document “Standards Guidance”

Recommended for assessment:

• GDC “Standards Guidance” document.
• Signed reflective commentary demonstrating understanding of the requirements
• Clinical References

Included for assesment:

• GDC “Standards Guidance” document.
• Signed reflective commentary demonstrating understanding of the requirements
• Clinical References:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Reflective Commentary on GDC guidelines.
  
  
  
  
  Within the evidence supplied there are numerous references to GDC guidelines including medical emergencies, clinical record keeping sections and complaints handling.
  The GDC in the booklet Standards for Dental Professionals lists 'The Principles of Practice in Dentistry'; For each principle I will give write a short reflective commentary.
  
  
  1. Putting patients' interests first.
  
  
  Although quite a simple statement, sometimes putting patients' interests first can be difficult. For example a patient who is comfortable being treated by their regular dentist who needs specialist endodontic treatment and that is outside the competence of the dentist. “Cant you just carry out the treatment? I am comfortable with you and I don't want to pay the higher fees?”. The dentist feels flattered “well, I we could give it a try”.
  Is this in the best interests of the patient? If the dentist clearly feels it is beyond his or her competence- he should put the patients' interest first, not the patients' wants and make the referral.
  This principle covers most everything: not putting financial incentives above patient care, record keeping, complaints handling. Most other principles are simply situation-specific applications of this one principle.
  
  
  
  
  2. Respect patients dignity and choices
  
  
  Dentists should respect patient autonomy and patients should expect to be informed about the state of their oral health and the treatment options available. They should be treated fairly and without the influence of irrelevant factors. A big component of this is effective patient communication. It also means that we should respect professional boundaries.
  Example: A patient needs endodontic treatment on a chronic abscess. The dentist has clearly defined the risks of leaving an untreated infection. The patient refuses to have endodontic treatment as 'it does not give any pain'. The dentist must respect the decision of the patient, even if the dentist feels it is wrong and cannot perform any treatment without the patient's consent.
  
  
  
  
  3. Protect the confidentiality of patients' information
  
  
  This is covered in detail in the Record Keeping section.
  
  
  
  
  4. Co-operate with other members of the dental team and other healthcare colleagues in the interests of patients
  This is covered a little elsewhere in the portfolio. The many members of the dental team working in together well will most likely have an synergistic effect on the patients quality of experience. I learn't this very early on in my dental career within the hospital and my first practice. A good relationship with all members of staff will make the job easier, more pleasant and more enjoyable for the patient. There is no place for unfair treatment or being rude to other members of staff, no-one benefits.  
  
  
  
  

  
  

  5. Maintain your professional knowledge and competence.

  
  

  This principle assumes the professional is competent to begin with(!), dental professionals should be constantly updating their knowledge. If you are not actively increasing your knowledge about the treatment you are performing, then you are passively becoming more incompetent. It is concerning to see dental professionals become more confident in doing the wrong things because they are in line with the current evidence. No-one is immune to such a process, including myself.

  Mandatory CPD is a minimum standard. I feel passionate about post-graduate education and intend to keep learning.

  
  

  
  

  6. Be trustworthy

  
  

  When the trust of a dental professional is lost the consequences can be disastrous. Untreated disease, complaints and legal challenges. By showing integrity and being trustworthy, dental professionals can live up to the high standards the public expects and deserves. There are statements regarding colleagues perceptions of my integrity and trustworthiness.

  
  

  There are other more specific references to the other principles within the documentation provided within the literature.

  
  

  Other booklets provided by the GDC, provide more detail on the principles above but also discuss other topic such as 'scope of practice' where there is more specific guidance on the application of these principles. Scope of practice released in January 2009 gives a list of what the different dental professionals can and cant do.

  
  

  In addition to the reflective commentary, an essay written as an undergraduate is available on request. This is an example of the GDC standards mentioned could be implemented in clincal practice.

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  Then in this section I included the clinical references.