Consumer Rights in Dentistry: Patient and Employee Rights

This report delves into the multifaceted realm of consumer rights within the dental industry. It begins with an introduction to customer rights, setting the stage for an exploration of the establishment of consumer rights in dental practices. The report thoroughly examines patient rights, referencing a patients' bill of rights and the rights of practitioners. It also investigates the rights of traders and people involved in the clinic, including employees, covering aspects such as equal opportunity, a safe work environment, respect, negotiation, and fair compensation. The report further addresses the right to a work-life balance and the importance of acting in a professional standard. The conclusion synthesizes the key findings, and the report is supported by a comprehensive list of references from various sources, including the Australian Dental Association, Dental Council, and legal handbooks, providing a robust foundation for understanding the legal and ethical considerations of consumer rights in dentistry.

Consumer Rights in Dentistry

Introduction- Customer Rights
Customer rights are defined as an agreement
between the customer and a provider of the
service to protect the customer from harm.
Customer rights are aimed to ensure fair and
honest practices on the part of service provider in
relation to the customer. Customer rights are
formed to make the customers aware about the
malpractices in the market and the ways to deal
with such wrong practices.

Introduction- Customer Rights
Dentistry
The Australian Dental Association
(ADA) issued the rights and
protections for the dental patients.
These rights are governed by federal
and state laws to encourage the
improvement the health and maintain
discipline in dentistry.
The customer rights in dentistry helps
the patient in getting better care and
the option to choose their dentist with
full information

Establishment of Consumer Rights
• For the protection of
patients interest in
dentistry first dental act
was announced on 16
December, 1887.
1887
• In 1992, Australian
Dental Council was
formulated to safeguard
the interest of the
dental patients.
1992 • To protect the interest
of consumers the
competition and
consumer act,2010 was
implemented.
• Patients’ bill of rights in
dentistry was
formulated in 2010 by
Australian Dental Board.
2010

Patients’ Bill of Rights
Right to choose his own
dentist.
Right to know about the
prescribed treatment
process and his current
condition.
Right to know about the
education and training
of the doctor, the
complete explanation
of the treatment
procedure and risk
associated and
expected cost of the
treatment.
Right to check the
arrangements for
proper care and
emergency treatment.
Right to privacy about
the health care
operations.
Right task for the copy
of his dental records

Cont…
Right to be treated with courtesy, respect and highest professional.
Right to be treated in a timely manner.
Right to be treated with dignity and independence.
Right to have a support person with him or her at most times.
Right to complain against the misbehaving or improper treatment
of the dentist or his staff.
Right to expect that proper infection and sterilization controls are
used by the dental team members

Cont…
Right to
know about
the various
treatment
options
irrespective
insurance
benefit
coverage.
right to
know the
fees
required to
be paid and
the how the
payment is
to be made.
Right to
refuse
research
treatment
Right to
ensure that
complaint
dealt
appropriatel
y.
Right to
contact
friends,
family for
support and
to discuss
problems.

Rights to Practitioner
Right to get
timely
information
regarding his or
her patient. Right to make
changes
regarding
diagnosis and
medications.
Right to refer the
patient to other
doctor with a
statement of
cause.
Right to set up
criteria,
guidelines for
treating their
patients.
Right to
maintain the
confidentiality
about the
treatment
procedures.
right to change
working hours in
active patient
care, charting or
completion of
paper work.

Rights to Traders
Right to negotiation2
Right to speak3
Right to withdrawal4
Right to use trading methodology5
Right to fair trading platform1

Rights to people involved in the
clinic
Rights to
Eployees
Right to equal
opportunity
Right to safe work
environemnt
Right to be treated with
respect
Right to negotiate Right to Exit
Right to fair
compensation
Right to work/life
balance
Right to act in
professional standard

Conclusion
The doctors,
patients and
all the people
involved have
the right to be
treated with
respect
without any
kind of
discrimination.
The patients
should be
made aware
about their
rights at the
healthcare
centers.
It helps to
resolve many
problems in
case of
complications.
Patient’s bill of
rights are very
important in
healthcare.
These rights
are beneficial
for both the
patient and
the hospital.

References
Australian Dental Association (2018) Policy Statement 5.8 – Dental Acts, the National Law and Boards [Online]. Available from:
ttps://www.ada.org.au/Dental-Professionals/Policies/Third-Parties/5-8-Dental-Acts-the-National-Law-and-Boards/ADAPolicies_5-8_Dental-
ActstheNationalLawandBoards [Accessed 14 May 2018].
Central Coast Home Health (2018) Physician Rights and Responsibilities [Online]. Available from:
https://centralcoasthomehealth.com/images/Physician_Rights.pdf [Accessed 14 May 2018].
Dental Council (2018) Patient rights [Online]. Available from: https://www.dcnz.org.nz/patients-the-public-and-employers/patient-rights/ [Accessed 14
May 2018].
Dentistry Guide (2018) Dental Patient Right [Online]. Available from: https://www.yourdentistryguide.com/patient-rights/ [Accessed 14 May 2018].
Dentistry (2018) Patient Bill of Rights and Responsibilities [Online]. Available from: http://dentistry.usc.edu/patient-care/patient-bill-of-rights-and-
responsibilities/ [Accessed 14 May 2018].
Find Law (2018) Employees Rights 101 [Online]. Available from: https://employment.findlaw.com/employment-discrimination/employees-rights-
101.html [Accessed 14 May 2018].
Greenwood, B. (2018) The Rights and Responsibilities of doctors and nurses [Online]. Available from: http://work.chron.com/rights-responsibilities-
doctors-nurses-28457.html [Accessed 14 May 2018].
Ionidea (2018) Employees’ Bill of Rights [Online]. Available from: http://www.ionidea.com/bill-of-rights-employee.php [Accessed 14 May 2018].
Law Handbook (2018) Patients' Rights [Online]. Available from: https://www.lawhandbook.sa.gov.au/ch29s01.php [Accessed 14 May 2018].
Olin, J. (2011) Rights of Nurses [Online]. Available from: http://www.rncentral.com/blog/2011/7-rights-of-nurses/ [Accessed 14 May 2018].
Parker, M.C. (2017) The Physician’s Bill of Rights [Online]. Available from: https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2017/02/physicians-bill-rights.html
[Accessed 14 May 2018].
PetroCard (2007. Supplier Bill of Rights [Online]. Available from: https://www.petrocard.com/pdfs/Suppliers%20Bill%20of%20Rights.pdf [Accessed
14 May 2018].
The Australian (2018) Doctors want the right to refuse to treat patients, British study says [Online]. Available from:
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/doctors/news-story/9ff1796d29de83188a9ca67d45be5b5a?sv=fed6d980a7c1ef5c2c6a47e6368f79db
[Accessed 14 May 2018].
Traders Advocate (2018) Traders Bill of Rights [Online]. Available from: http://www.tradersadvocate.com/pages/view/32#.WvphlPkvzIU [Accessed 14
May 2018].
Watson, S. (2018) Understanding the Legal and Ethical Guarantees [Online]. Available from: https://www.verywellhealth.com/dental-patients-bill-of-
rights-1058987 [Accessed 14 May 2018].
Workplace Fairness (2018) Your Rights [Online]. Available from: https://www.workplacefairness.org/your-rights [Accessed 14 May 2018].