2 minute read
Employing our professional judgement
We all need to mindful of our own welfare, and that of our patients, during these challenging times
By Bill Suen DHAA CEO
THE ENVIABLE COVID-free environment that most of Australia had enjoyed came to an abrupt end with the highly-contagious Delta variant outbreaks that have emerged across the country over recent weeks.
During the early part of the pandemic, non-urgent dental treatments were invariably suspended to minimise the chance of Covid-19 transmission. However, it is becoming apparent that delaying the public from seeking less urgent treatments may be problematic, leading to a significant increase in preventable medical and dental conditions down the track. Furthermore, closing or restricting private dental clinics during a lockdown will put additional pressure on emergency public dental services that are already stretched. As a result, some state health authorities are now allowing dental practices to operate under lockdown, and asking dental practitioners to exercise their professional judgement to determine if the treatment is appropriate and essential for the best interest of the patients. Practitioners are asked to take a risk-based approach to balance the risk of treatment delays with the likelihood of transmission and the need for movement restrictions.
Practitioners must check lockdown orders to ascertain if practitioner judgement is required or allowed. This may change due to varying circumstances.
While routine dental hygiene work can be (and should be) deferred, it may be ‘essential’ for those who have more complex oral and systemic diseases, where treatment deferral may put them at unacceptable risk. Refusal to provide essential treatments in some cases may be regarded just as unprofessional as seeing patients requiring non-essential treatment.
Each case is different and the factors to be considered are often multi-faceted and complex. It is both impossible and inappropriate for authorities and peak bodies to list the treatments that can, or cannot, be provided during lockdowns.
All independent practitioners, dental hygienists, oral health therapists and dental therapists should review each patient on a case-by-case basis. Given that pre-screening is a requirement, we should consider each patient’s situation prior to confirming the appointment, and document the rationale of the decision to treat or to defer on their dental record.
Making blanket decisions to treat all patients without appropriate clinical considerations is unprofessional and irresponsible during a lockdown. And, AHPRA would expect each individual practitioner to make the appropriate call for their own patients.
Practitioners who coerce others to act unprofessionally are notifiable to the Dental Board/Council. Management who coerce employees to practice in a way that is unsafe for the staff and/or the public could be prosecuted under state work-safe and commonwealth fair-work legislations.
It's time for us to rise to the occasion, to exercise our professional judgement in accordance with the AHPRA code of conduct, to make decisions and to act in the best interest of the patients we serve. Be proud to act as independent practitioners.
