Ethics, Dentistry and Hepatitis B

Paper Summary:

The paper argues that there is no need to reveal personal health issues to patients when proper preventative measures have been taken to protect the health and well-being of the patient. The paper maintains that it is not important for a dentist to reveal the fact that he carries HBV (hepatitis B virus) in terms of ethics and then shows how the chances of a dentist with HBV passing along that virus to a patient is extremely remote. The paper concludes that telling a patient about the presence of a hepatitis B virus needlessly creates unjustified anxiety and even panic.

Outline:
Thesis
Body of Paper
What Can Happen When an HBV Person Puts in Motion the Potential to Expose an HBV Infected Person
Ethical Issues
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Should a dentist necessarily inform the patient that she (we will use "she" in this paper) has the disease Hepatitis B positive? It is my contention and belief that a dentist is not obliged legally or ethically to make that health condition known to patients. And providing that all responsible healthcare-related precautions are taken, I see no good reason why a dentist should alarm a patient with an announcement of startling personal healthcare information. Would a dentist or doctor be obligated ethically to tell a patient that she is in the midst of a genital herpes outbreak? How about the fact that the dentist was out of work for 6 weeks due to mononucleosis? I don't think there is any moral, rational, or ethical justification for having to reveal personal health information of that nature."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Blatchford, Oliver; O'Brien, Sarah J.; Blatchford, Mary; & Taylor, Avril. (2000). Infectious health care workers: should patients be told? Journal of Medical Ethics, 26(1)27-33.
• Cleveland, Jennifer L. (1996). Hepatitis B Vaccination and Infection Among U.S. Dentists, 1983-1992. Journal of the American Dental Association, vol. 127,1385-1390.
• Cleveland, J.L.; Siew, C.; Lockwood, S.A.; Gruninger, S.E.; Chang, S-B.; Neidle, E.A.;& Russell, C.M. (1993). Factors Associated with Hepatitis B. Vaccine Response Among Dentists. Journal of Dental Research, 73(5), 1029-1035.
• Cowley, C. (2005). The Dangers of Medical Ethics. Journal of Medical Ethics, 31, 739-742.
• Josephson Institute of Ethics. (2005). The Six Pillars of Character; Resources: MakingEthical Decisions. Retrieved 25 March 2007 from http://www.josephsoninstitute.org/MED/MED-2sixpillars.htm.

More papers on Ethics, Dentistry and Hepatitis B:

• Term Paper # 144655 : "Hepatitis B Virus Infection"
• Analytical Essay # 123141 : "Hepatitis B"
• Research Paper # 7216 : "Hepatitis B"

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