Every member of the Association shall at all times comply with the spirit and letter of the following rules of conduct, as may
from time to time be amended by the Committee, in the course of day to day work as a dentist:
8.1 Put patients’ interests
first.
8.2 Communicate effectively with patients.
8.3 Obtain valid consent.
8.4 Maintain and protect patients’
information.
8.5 The member must accept full responsibility for all treatment undertaken, including treatment carried out, on the
member’s instructions, by auxiliaries. No operation or service should be delegated to a person who is not qualified or is not
permitted by the laws of Gibraltar to undertake that work.
8.6 A member has the right to decline to treat a patient. However, once
a treatment plan has been agreed and commenced, treatment should not be discontinued except for exceptional reasons and then the
member should cooperate in facilitating alternative arrangements for its completion.
8.7 Have a clear and effective complaints
procedure.
8.8 Work with colleagues in a way that is in patients’ best interests. A member should refer for advice or treatment
any patient considered to require a level of competence greater than that of that member. A member should behave towards colleagues in
a manner that respects the rules and etiquette of the profession and should be willing to assist colleagues professionally.
8.9
All information or publicity material regarding dental services should be legal, decent, honest and truthful. Advertising by dental
professionals should be a source of information to help patients make informed choices about their dental care.
8.10 Make sure
that your personal behaviour maintains patients’ confidence in you and the dental profession. The member should assume a responsible
role in community life.
8.11 A member should not solicit patients of colleagues and when consulted by a patient of another
dentist may attend to any condition constituting an emergency and then refer that patient back to the dentist concerned. However, the
member should uphold the principle that the patient has a free choice of practitioner.
8.12 Raise concerns if patients are at
risk.
8.13 Maintain, develop and work within your professional knowledge and skills. The member has an obligation to maintain
professional competence through Continuing Professional Development in the manner described by the Gibraltar Dental Association.
8.14
A member has an obligation to support the advancement of the profession through membership of scientific and professional
organizations locally, nationally and internationally and to observe their rules of ethics.