Vulnerability means: “loss of opportunities to live better, loss of abilities to live well, and, at its extreme, loss of living.”1 A common definition of vulnerability is: “capable of being physically or emotionally wounded.”2
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ased on these definitions, at some point in our lives we are all vulnerable, first as infants and children, then if we are injured, become ill, experience loss of income, housing and/or education and . . . as we age. We might also be vulnerable if we are members of a particular group, are in relationships with others, live in particular part of the world and/or experience a natural or manmade disaster . . . even a pandemic. Vulnerability may be transient or it may be permanent. We may be vulnerable in one setting but not another. For these reasons, a collective need to be sensitive to and accommodating of vulnerability exists. As dental professionals, this is especially important and embodied in the American Dental Association Principles of Ethics & Code of Professional Conduct which defines a “true professional” as possessing the “[q]ualities of honesty, compassion, kindness, integrity, fairness and charity . . .”3 The preamble goes on encourage each dentist to “share in providing advocacy to and core of the underserved.”3
Journal of the American College of Dentists
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