title: Dental ethics case 19: What are my ethical responsibilities when I suspect a colleague of substance abuse?
abstract: The situation described in this case scenario is an unwelcome one and can often lead to a breakdown in the relationship between professional colleagues. Many of these must be handled by scrupulous adherence to basic ethical principles. Where such conflicts do arise, every effort should be made to contain them in a manner which: avoids placing patients at risk; maintains the continuity of patient care and safeguards their rights and the quality of the dental care they receive; avoids bringing the profession into disrepute; maintains public confidence in the profession; treats professional colleagues as we would wish to be treated ourselves.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Dentistry, University of the Western Cape, Department of Community Dentistry, Private Bag X1, Tygerberg 7505. suenaidoo@uwc.ac.za
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Naidoo
mesh_terms: D004990:Ethics, Dental; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations / Q000941:ethics; D010318:Partnership Practice, Dental / Q000941:ethics*; D011363:Professional Impairment / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D012941:Social Responsibility; D013019:South Africa; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*