The NDA Code of Ethics provides a comprehensive set of directives outlining the ethical codes of conduct expected from NDA dentist members. Formulated in alignment with the Dentist’s Act amended in 2016 and inspired by various international Dental Associations, the code aims to uphold high standards of patient care to meet global benchmarks. The NDA endeavors to position Nepal prominently on the global dental map by holding its members to elevated ethical standards through the adoption of this Code of Ethics.

Short Title and Commencement:

These regulations are referred to as the Revised NDA Code of Ethics, 2014.

Definitions

• ‘Act’ means the Dentists Act, 1948 (16 of 1948).
• ‘Council’ means the Medical Council of Nepal.
• 'Dentist' means any person with a registerable dental degree (in Part A or Part B of the State Dental Register) either by virtue of prior registration with the Council or one conferred with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) from any university recognized by the Council, referred to as a Dentist or Dental Surgeon.
• 'Postgraduate dental degree' refers to any postgraduate qualification like MDS in any dentistry discipline, received by convocation from a university recognized by the Medical Council of Nepal or any other equivalent postgraduate qualification recognized by the Council.
• All expressions not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned in the Act and the regulations made thereunder.

Introduction

What is Dental Ethics? Ethics is an intrinsic component of dental practice. It involves careful reflection and analysis of moral decisions and behavior, past, present, or future. Morality, the value dimension of human decision-making and behavior, includes concepts like ‘rights’, ‘responsibilities’, ‘virtues’, ‘good’, ‘bad’, ‘right’, ‘wrong’, ‘just’, and ‘unjust’. Ethics provides rational criteria for decision-making, while morality is about action. The close relationship between ethics and morality lies in ethics providing rational criteria for people to decide or behave in specific ways. As ethics encompasses all aspects of human behavior and decision-making, it is a vast and complex field of study with numerous branches.

Dental Ethics and its Significance: Compassion, competence, and autonomy are fundamental to dentistry. Dentists, as healthcare professionals, are required to exemplify these values to a higher degree than in other occupations. Compassion, understanding, and concern for a patient’s distress are crucial. Dentists must demonstrate a high degree of competence in both scientific knowledge and technical skills, including ethical knowledge, to address evolving ethical issues. Autonomy, or self-determination, is a core value in dentistry that has evolved significantly over the years, providing dentists with a high degree of clinical autonomy.

Code of Dental Ethics

Declaration: Every registered dentist must, within thirty days of the commencement of these regulations or after registration, make a declaration before the Registrar of the State Medical Council. This declaration, as per the form set out in the Schedule, signifies the dentist's agreement to have read, understood, and committed to abide by the NDA Code of Ethics.

Duties and Obligations of Dentists in General:

Character of Dentist / Dental Surgeon: A Dentist/Dental Surgeon must recognize the high character of their mission, understanding the responsibilities they bear as independent healthcare professionals. They should prioritize patient welfare, displaying courtesy, sympathy, friendliness, and helpfulness. Behavior towards patients and the public should consistently be polite and dignified.

Maintaining Good Clinical Practices: A Registered Dental Surgeon must issue certificates, notifications, reports, etc., when required and sign them, bearing the responsibility for the accuracy of the information. Any misleading or improper documentation may lead to disciplinary actions, including the removal of the dentist's name from the Register.

Duties of Dental Practitioners to Their Patients:

Responsibility to Patient: The primary concern is the life, general health, and well-being of the patient. Dentists must provide the highest quality of care, considering patient constraints and available resources.

Responsibilities of Dental Surgeons Towards One Another:

Dependence of Dental Surgeons on Each Other: Dental Surgeons should willingly provide gratuitous service to other dentists, physicians, and their immediate family dependents. While accepting fees is not prohibited, commissions or gratuities to the referring dental surgeon are considered unethical.

Duties of Dental Surgeons Towards the Public and Paramedical Profession:

Dental Surgeons as Citizens: Dental Surgeons, as good citizens with special training, should disseminate advice on public health issues. They should cooperate with authorities in administering sanitary/public health laws and regulations.

Duties of Dental Surgeons and Specialists in Consultations:

Consultation Etiquettes: Dental Surgeons should be able to handle common oral cavity diseases independently. If a patient requires specialist care, appropriate referrals should be made, and the specialist must refer the patient back to the original dentist after treatment.

Unethical Acts: Dental Surgeons shall not aid, abet, or commit unethical acts, including misleading or improper behavior.

Punishments and Disciplinary Action: Dental Surgeons engaging in unethical acts are liable for disciplinary actions, including the removal of their name from the Register.