Real-Life Decision Making
Two months ago, you graduated from your dental assistant training program.
You met the requirements to become certified as a dental assistant in your
state. You are very proud of your accomplishment.
As a credentialed dental assistant, your license permits you to perform
certain tasks. There are certain tasks that a dental hygienist or a dentist
can perform, but that a dental assistant cannot. You risk losing your license
if you perform dental tasks that are not within your scope.
Not only that, you have a code of ethics to follow. The code outlines appropriate
conduct for a certified dental assistant. It says that you are ethically obligated
to perform only those duties outlined in the certifying legislation.
When you were taking your training, your instructor explained the code
of ethics to the class. She said that the code of ethics protects the patient,
the dental assistant and the profession. When a dental practitioner behaves
unethically, it harms the whole profession. It's like that old saying: "One
bad apple spoils the barrel."
You thought the code of ethics was a good idea, but you didn't worry about
it very much. You knew that you would never behave unethically.
Now you have found a job working in a busy dental practice. You are replacing
a dental assistant who moved away. It is your first job and you love the work.
You are eager to make a good impression with the dentists in the practice.
So far, everything is going well. The patients like you and the dentists tell
you that you are doing a good job.
One day, one of the dentists brings Emily to you for some work. Emily is
a 12-year-old girl. She needs to have her teeth polished and a fluoride treatment.
Your license authorizes you to perform these procedures.
As you start working in the girl's mouth, the dentist comes back and says
to you, "When I was examining Emily's teeth, I noticed that she needs some
scaling on two teeth. Please remove that before you do the polishing and fluoride."
Scales are hard deposits of tartar that form on teeth. If not scraped off,
they cause gum disease and tooth decay. Dental assistants are not licensed
to perform scaling. Dental hygienists perform this work.
You explain this to the dentist. He looks irritated, and asks you to do
the procedure anyway. He says that the hygienist is busy with other patients.
If you don't do the work, Emily will have to make another appointment and
come in just to have five minutes' work done.
Emily looks at you and says, "Oh, please do it. I don't want to come back!"
The dentist smiles and says, "See, even the patient wants you do to the work:"
You still hesitate. The dentist takes you aside and tells you that their
last certified dental assistant did scaling work all of the time. "She never
had any problems with the licensing board," he says. He points out that the
office runs more smoothly if you help out with these jobs from time to time.
He also says that the licensing board won't find out, anyway, so there is
nothing for you to worry about.
What do you do?