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Ethics and Ethical Standards for Dentists and Dental Professionals

Course Description

Ethics and Ethical Standards for Dentists and Dental Professionals (New Zealand) is a CPD course designed to help oral-health practitioners understand, apply, and demonstrate ethical conduct in accordance with the Dental Council of New Zealand (DCNZ) Standards Framework for Oral Health Practitioners.

The DCNZ requires every registrant to practise ethically, honestly, and respectfully — placing patients’ interests first, maintaining professional boundaries, and ensuring cultural safety consistent with Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
This course explores the four core ethical principles — autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice — alongside New Zealand’s legal and cultural expectations, including informed consent, confidentiality, probity, and fairness.
Through regulator-aligned guidance and real-world examples, learners will gain practical strategies to navigate ethical dilemmas, build trust, and demonstrate accountability in CPD, remediation, and fitness-to-practise contexts.

Course Content

Course Objectives
Course Objectives
Section 1 — Why Ethics Matters in New Zealand Dental Practice
1.1 The Role of Ethics in Dentistry
1.2 Why the Dental Council Prioritises Ethics
1.3 Ethics and Professional Identity in Aotearoa
1.4 Consequences of Ethical Lapses
1.5 Why Ethics Matters Now More Than Ever
1.6 Reflective Quiz
Section 2 — Core Ethical Principles — Autonomy, Beneficence, Non-Maleficence, Justice
2.1 Autonomy — Respecting Patient Choice
2.2 Beneficence — Acting in the Patient’s Best Interest
2.3 Non-Maleficence — “Do No Harm”
2.4 Justice — Fairness and Equality in Dental Care
2.5 Balancing Principles in Practice
2.6 Reflective Quiz
Section 3 — DCNZ Standards Framework — Key Ethical Expectations
3.1 Putting Patients’ Interests First
3.2 Ensuring Safe Practice
3.3 Communicating Effectively
3.4 Providing Good Care
3.5 Maintaining Public Trust and Confidence
3.6 Accountability and Candour
3.7 Digital Professionalism
3.8 Reflection and Remediation
3.9 Reflective Quiz
Section 4 — Common Ethical Dilemmas in New Zealand Dental Practice
4.1 Informed Refusal vs Beneficence
4.2 Confidentiality vs Duty to Protect
4.3 Consent and Financial Transparency
4.4 Cosmetic Dentistry and Beneficence
4.5 Digital Professionalism and Social Media
4.6 Cultural Safety and Te Tiriti Obligations
4.7 Professional Boundaries
4.8 Reflective Quiz
Section 5 — Confidentiality, Digital Professionalism, and Privacy (Health Information Privacy Code 2020)
5.1 The Ethical Duty of Confidentiality
5.3 Confidentiality in the Digital Era
5.4 Digital Professionalism and Social Media
5.5 Telehealth and Virtual Consultations
5.6 Consequences of Breaches
5.7 Reflective Quiz
Section 6 — Probity, Honesty, and Accountability in Dental Practice (New Zealand)
6.1 Probity as a Core Ethical Duty
6.2 Honesty in Documentation and Communication
6.3 Financial Integrity and Transparency
6.4 Accountability in Clinical Practice
6.5 Consequences of Breaching Probity and Accountability
6.6 Building a Culture of Probity and Accountability
6.7 Reflective Quiz
Section 7 — Weak vs Strong Ethical Responses — Case Comparisons
7.1 Record Alteration
7.2 Consent Failure
7.3 Boundary Concern
7.4 Billing Misconduct
7.5 Disrespectful Communication
7.6 Cultural Safety Lapse
7.7 Lessons Across Cases
7.8 Reflective Quiz
Section 8 — Demonstrating Ethics in Fitness-to-Practise and Remediation Processes
8.1 Why Ethical Demonstration Matters
8.2 How the DCNZ Assesses Ethical Behaviour
8.3 Weak vs Strong Demonstrations
8.4 Evidence That Reassures the Council
8.5 Remediation Portfolios in New Zealand
8.6 Long-Term Monitoring and Ethical Growth
8.7 Reflective Quiz
Section 9 — Embedding Ethics into Professional Identity and Resilience
9.1 Ethics as Professional Identity
9.2 Daily Ethical Habits
9.3 Reflection and Accountability as Routine Practice
9.4 Building Resilience to Sustain Ethics
9.5 Mentorship and Role Modelling
9.6 Sustaining Ethics Across a Career
9.7 Reflective Quiz
Section 10: Conclusion and Key Takeaways
Conclusion and Key Takeaways
Post-Course Assessment
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