Ethics Projects for Sections

Summary

This is a summary of ethics projects that Sections may wish to implement in their Sections.

 Ethics and Professionalism Continuing Education Requirements

An ADA CERP category of "Ethics, Law, and Professionalism" was recently established by the ADA in response to a request from the ACD. Sections have an opportunity to work with controlling authorities in their states to establish continuing education requirements in ethics and professionalism. New requirements would not normally be in the form of requiring additional hours. Rather, states could be urged to accept a certain number of hours in ethics and professionalism as equivalent to the same number of hours in a clinical category. Other variations could obviously be applied.

Advantages: High impact; perpetual impact
Disadvantages: Requires cooperation with state; requires political influence; harder to achieve
Examples of Sections Using: New York Section (new); Georgia Section (new)

 Ethics Award

An ethics award program involves selecting a student, typically a junior or senior, to receive an "American College of Dentists Award in Ethics" or other similar wording. The school would generally be relied upon to select the student that, for example, best typifies ethical conduct and professional ideals. A cash award and certificate would usually apply. Presentation of the winner would usually be at graduation, but may be at another school ceremony or at an ACD function.

Advantages: Very easy to establish; relatively low cost
Disadvantages: Fair impact
Examples of Sections Using: Florida Section (student and faculty); Georgia Section

 Ethics Endowed Chair

This program involves raising enough money to endow a chair in ethics at a dental school. The amount to endow a chair varies, but $1 million or more might be needed. The ACD Section typically coordinates fund-raising efforts through the school, but does not limit solicitation to Fellows only. Corporations are also solicited. This is an ambitious program, but the payoff can be considerable and long-standing.

Advantages: High visibility; perpetual impact; schools very receptive
Disadvantages: Requires raising a large amount of money
Examples of Sections Using: British Columbia Section

 Ethics Essay

An ethics essay program typically involves an essay contest at a dental school. Contest can be directed at one class or open to all dental students. Essay may or may not address a pre-determined topic. A cash award and certificate usually apply. Judging may be done by the school or by the Section or both. Presentation of the winner may be at a school ceremony, graduation, or at an ACD function. Possibility to have essay published in JACD.

Advantages: Very easy to establish; relatively low cost
Disadvantages: Questionable impact beyond participants
Examples of Sections Using: Georgia Section; Indiana Section; Washington Section; Oregon Section

 Ethics Lecture

An ethics lecture program typically consists of sponsoring an invited lecture in ethics (or professionalism) to all (or some) classes of a dental school, or a presentation at a dental society meeting, or other venue. ACD Section would usually select the speaker, although this may be in cooperation with the dental school. The ACD Section would typically pay the speaker’s expenses. The lecture could be combined with additional activities such as a reception, a retreat, or a meal. Alternatively, the lecture(s) may be a course, panel discussion, or forum.

Advantages: Good impact; relatively easy to establish; speaker’s costs a factor but controllable
Disadvantages: Can be expensive; need close cooperation with school or organization
Examples of Sections Using: Atlantic Provinces Section; Georgia Section; Nebraska Section; New York Section (course); Wisconsin Section; Arkansas Section; Montana Section; Tennessee Section

 Ethics Program with Facilitated Dilemmas

This program presents ethical dilemmas to students using trained (or partially trained) facilitators. There is a moderator (usually an ACD Fellow) and ACD Fellows serve as facilitators. Students are required to read ethical dilemmas in advance, and they take a pretest on the material before the facilitated session. After a short plenary session, students break into groups and the ACD Fellows facilitate group discussions. Student attendance is required. The program entails eight 2-hour sessions.

Advantages: High impact; relatively low cost
Disadvantages: Requires trained volunteer Fellows; need close cooperation with school
Examples of Sections Using: New York Section

 Ethics Program with Dilemmas (simple)

This is a variation of the previous program, but is a simpler approach. This program utilizes a short introduction (about 15 minutes) by a moderator to the plenary group. Students are then seated in breakout groups of about 8 students each with one ACD Fellow per group. About 5-7 printed ethical dilemmas are distributed to the students on site. ACD Fellows serve as advisors, not facilitators. Advisors have previously met with the moderator for approximately 15-30 minutes for their instructions. Students guide themselves through the dilemmas and the advisor ensures that a wide variety of options are considered. Groups agree on a course of action for each dilemma. Groups return to plenary session and moderator discusses each dilemma, asking group leaders to summarize their recommendations. After reviewing each dilemma, the moderator presents the generally preferred approach of action. After all dilemmas have been discussed, group adjourns to a meal (or alternatively, a reception). Student attendance is required and the program takes approximately 3 hours, not including the meal.

Advantages: Relatively easy to produce; high impact; relatively low cost
Disadvantages: Requires volunteer Fellows; need close cooperation with school
Examples of Sections Using: Mississippi Section; Florida Section; Oklahoma Section; Upper Midwest Section; British Columbia Section; Indiana Section (being implemented)

 Ethics Retreat for Students and Faculty

In cooperation with the dental school, the ACD Section sponsors an ethics retreat at a location remote from the school. The retreat typically features an ethics (or professionalism) presentation by an invited speaker. The retreat may involve the use of facilitated dilemmas or other approaches. If used, the ACD Section would usually select the speaker, although this may be in cooperation with the dental school. The ACD Section would typically pay the speaker’s expenses. The lecture could be combined with additional activities such as a reception or a meal with expenses absorbed (all or part) by the Section. Alternatively, the lecture may be a panel discussion or forum

Advantages: High impact; speaker’s costs a factor but can be controlled
Disadvantages: Requires good planning; costs a factor; need close cooperation with school

 Ethics Sensitivity Test

The Ethics Sensitivity Test developed by Dr. Muriel Bebeau is an effective approach to introduce ethics. The test is typically given to one class and is coordinated by the ACD Section. Sections utilize volunteer Fellows to interview and administer the test to students. Test administration requires close cooperation with Fellows. Fellows grade the tests.

Advantages: Very high impact; personal approach; good visibility
Disadvantages: Need strong ACD volunteer commitment and close cooperation with school
Examples of Sections Using: Indiana Section had previously used

 Clinical Ethical Dilemmas Mailbox

A mailbox (much like a suggestion box) is established in the dental school. Students with clinical ethical dilemmas can submit them anonymously to a mailbox located in the school. The students can optionally add their names. The dilemmas are reviewed periodically by a program coordinator and solutions published, distributed, and (optionally) used as the basis for discussion in ethics classes or programs. The ACD Section would work with the school to establish the box and could provide funds and/or personnel to assist in carrying out the program.

Advantages: Easy to establish; relatively low cost
Disadvantages: Good impact
Examples of Sections Using: New England Section (considering for implementation)

 Luncheon for Learning

With a luncheon for learning, a class of students (typically seniors) are provided lunch in round table settings. An ACD Fellow discusses a predetermined topic at each table and involves students in the discussions. Topics at tables are varied, but all should have an underlying message of ethics and professionalism. A keynote lecture can accompany the individual discussions at tables. The ACD Section would typically underwrite the costs of the lunch and speaker (if used).

Advantages: Good impact; high student acceptance
Disadvantages: Need ACD volunteers and close cooperation with school
Examples of Sections Using: Maryland Section (variation of); Montana Section; Northern California Section

 Mentoring Program

A mentoring program typically involves junior or senior dental students and volunteer ACD Fellows who serve as mentors. Students meet with their "mentor" periodically and discuss practice, ethics, and professionalism among other subjects. Observer rotations at the mentor’s office may be possible, depending on the school. ACD Section could sponsor meal or reception inviting mentors and students.

Advantages: Good impact; personal approach; good visibility for ACD
Disadvantages: Requires large number of ACD volunteers; need close cooperation with school
Examples of Sections Using: Florida Section; Illinois Section; West Virginia Section; Washington Section; Montana Section

 White Coat Ceremony

The "White Coat" ceremony signifies the transition of pre-clinical instruction to clinical instruction, normally at the end of the second year. The theme is centered around professionalism. Family and guests are in attendance. Students are presented white coats in a graduation-like ceremony and with faculty and administration present. There is typically a keynote speaker addressing ethics or professionalism. Participants and audience adjourn to a reception (or even meal) afterward. ACD Section sponsors the event with the school, for example by helping purchase the white coats.

Advantages: High profile, high impact program
Disadvantages: Requires close cooperation with school; cost may be a factor
Examples of Sections Using: Louisiana Section; West Virginia Section; Mississippi Section; Texas Section

Ethics Resources Available at the Executive Office:

Ethics Handbook for Dentists—the Ethics Handbook for Dentists is designed for both students and dentists

Ethical Dilemma CDs—collection of 52 Ethical Dilemmas published in the Texas Dental Journal and authored by Dr. Thomas K. Hasegawa et al.

Ethics Wallet Cards—the Ethics Wallet Card is primarily designed for dental students, but is popular with dentists as well

NOTE: The Sections listed as "examples" under each program are not the only Sections performing those activities.