Standards of Ethical Conduct and Fair Process

On this Page

• Preamble
• Citizenship
• Ethics, Professionalism and Citizenship (EPC) Committee
• Code of Principles of Ethical and Professional Conduct
  • Professional Conduct
  • Clinical Conduct
  • Computer Ethics
  • Massachusetts Computer Crime Law
• Policies and Procedures Relative to Student Cheating
• Implementation of the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct
• Principles of Ethical and Professional Conduct/Student Honor Code
• Disciplinary Action and Fair Process
• Disciplinary Procedures
  • Allegation
  • Optional Preliminary Investigation and Report
  • Initial notice to the Respondent, the Respondent’s right to respond in writing and with documents, and review and report by the IRC
  • EPC Deliberation and Disposition
  • The EPC Hearing
  • EPC Deliberation and Recommendation
  • Review and Decision by the Executive Faculty
  • Review of the Appeal by the Dean
• Actions and Penalties

PREAMBLE

Our School is a community of students, staff, and faculty. Important to our school is the high standard of honesty and integrity with which the community carries out its responsibilities. Absolute honesty on the part of every student, every faculty member, administrator, and staff member always has and always shall be an essential part of higher education at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. Honesty must extend not only to academic and professional endeavors but also to social activities. Since academic and professional work in the School is designed to assist the student in expanding his/her knowledge and intellectual capacity, it can be achieved only by individual, independent study and work.

The student dentist must fully recognize the obligations involved in the discharge of his/her duties toward patients. The latter are, in most cases, unable to estimate precisely the character of adequate procedures; therefore, the student's own sense of right must guarantee faithfulness in his/her performance.

The students, in their relationship to the institution, must be governed by strict rules of honesty and courtesy.

Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, as a school of the University, has a four-fold mission: to educate students for the dental profession, to provide patient care, to advance knowledge through research, and to serve the community at large through its diverse resources.

The Code of Principles of Ethical and Professional Conduct (herein after referred to as the Code), as administered by the Ethics, Professionalism, and Citizenship (EPC) Committee, is a set of rules to insure that all students in the School of Dental Medicine share a collective responsibility for maintaining the highest ethical standards and professional conduct in their relationships with each other and with patients. Nothing in this document is to be construed as contradictory to present or future University policies and procedures, and in the event of such conflict, University policies and procedures will prevail. The final responsibility for adherence to the Code rests with each individual. Therefore, each student has the general obligation to:

1. Maintain high standards of academic and professional honesty and integrity.
2. Respect the rights, privileges and property of other members of the academic community and visitors to the campus.
3. Refrain from actions that would interfere with University functions, endanger the health, safety or welfare of other persons, or would expose the University to legal risk.
4. Know and comply with the rules and regulations of Tufts University and the School of Dental Medicine.
5. Seek advice and counsel when faced with an ethical dilemma.

The School of Dental Medicine, through its faculty and staff, will foster an environment that promotes adherence to the Code. For example, the faculty and staff will work to clarify academic requirements, provide help to students in meeting expectations, and avoid situations that may lead anyone to violate the Code.

CITIZENSHIP

A major responsibility of the Ethics, Professionalism, and Citizenship (EPC) Committee is to promote citizenship within our community. Ethical and professional practices are certainly part of citizenship, but additionally, civility to members of our community, care for the environment of our community, understanding and acceptance of the diversity within our community, and pride in our accomplishments, are goals also strongly encouraged by the EPC Committee.

Citizenship is promoted by each of its members by, in part, understanding that caring for the details of everyday life during the rather long and focused hours of school is extremely important. Politeness, cleaning up after oneself, and helping others with small and/or large tasks, all go a long way toward a more civil, neater, and cleaner environment.

Tufts University School of Dental Medicine is composed of individuals from a diverse range of backgrounds and circumstances. This diversity is important for students to embrace in order to function effectively as professionals, but this process can be challenging and difficult. Customs and attitudes are not homogenous for a group of individuals drawn from many different cultures and countries. Understanding the differences and how those differences may be accepted and incorporated within the larger framework of our own community’s culture is an important part of the work of the EPC Committee. Customs and attitudes change, and recognition and communication regarding such change are necessary to the functioning of a community.

Effective communication among individuals in our community - students, staff, and faculty - is essential to its smooth functioning and development of traditions that will positively affect the community is strongly encouraged. All members of the community are urged to discuss ideas with the elected or appointed representatives of the EPC Committee to help institute positive change that can become a part of traditions within our school.

ETHICS, PROFESSIONALISM, AND CITIZENSHIP (EPC) COMMITTEE

The EPC Committee shall have responsibility for:

1. promoting ethical and professional behavior and citizenship among students, faculty and staff
2. reviewing and making recommendations concerning all issues relating to the ethical and professional behavior of students, faculty and staff
3. monitoring compliance with the code of ethics

Written allegations related to staff behavior should be forwarded to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs, who will consult with the Executive Associate Dean in the disposition of the complaint.
Written allegations related to faculty behavior should be forwarded to the Chairperson of the EPC Committee. A standing EPC Subcommittee on Faculty will review the allegation and forward its recommendation to the Faculty Committee on Committees, which will formally respond to the allegation.

EPC Subcommittee for Faculty
The elected faculty members shall constitute the subcommittee on Faculty Ethics and Professionalism. One student member will be appointed yearly by the Chairperson of the EPC Committee to the Faculty Subcommittee with vote. All initial allegations regarding faculty shall be heard first by the faculty subcommittee. A recommendation, regarding the allegation, if applicable, will be forwarded to the Committee on Committees for adjudication.

CODE OF PRINCIPLES OF ETHICAL AND PROFESSIONAL  CONDUCT

Standards of Conduct

As individuals within the professional community attempt to apply and interpret general principles, the determination of what constitutes ethical and professional behavior is often a matter of personal decision. Although this Code does not cover every ethical situation that might develop, the following general expectations can provide guidance in two areas of conduct: professional and clinical.

A. Professional Conduct

In order to create and maintain the best possible professional atmosphere at the School of Dental Medicine, it is necessary that students adhere to standards of professionalism, courtesy, and ethics. Common courtesy and mutual respect are essential to enhance the educational experience, and to decrease stress and misunderstanding. Each student should recognize their responsibility in professional growth, and maintain an attitude that strengthens that development.

Inappropriate conduct is subject to disciplinary action but is not limited to the following:

A student will not:

1. furnish false or misleading information during the admissions and annual financial aid application process.
2. give, receive or obtain information pertaining to an examination during the examination period, except as authorized by the instructor.
3. represent written, clinical or laboratory work prepared by another person as his or her own work for credit (unless authorized by the instructor).
4. steal, procure in any unauthorized manner, damage, deface or destroy the property of the university or of another person. Willful property loss or damage caused by a student will be considered a violation of the Code of Principles of Ethical and Professional Conduct.
5. sell, lend, give (provide in any manner), steal or acquire information or materials unauthorized by the instructor.
6. possess any material or use any procedure or practice not authorized by the instructor, course director or department on any examination, written assignment, laboratory project, or clinical activity to be submitted or being performed for credit.
7. falsify in any way a grade, evaluation, patient record or any other university record.
8. present for credit any work that includes information (e.g., dates, patient encounter records, etc.) that the student knows to be false.
9. violate any policies of the School.
10. possess or use firearms or any other dangerous weapons on School property.
11. fail to safeguard confidentiality of patient records.
12. use, possess or sell any illegal drugs on or off the School property. (The Tufts University Drug Free Campus Program statement is included as Appendix B.)
13. use pressure, threat, abuse, or similar behaviors against any person involved to inhibit the reporting, investigation, or hearing of an alleged violation of this Code of Conduct.
14. withhold evidence pertinent or give false evidence about any ethics and professionalism complaint being heard or investigated.
15. act in a manner that significantly interferes with School teaching, research, administration or other responsibilities.
16. treat patients either outside regularly scheduled clinic periods or without appropriate faculty supervision. This action constitutes the illegal practice of dentistry.
17. aid another person in committing any of the other acts mentioned in this section.
18. take any action which is dishonest, unethical or in violation of university policies or procedures. A lack of action (e.g., witnessing an infraction of the University EPC Code and not reporting the infraction) may also be considered a violation of the Professional Conduct Code.

Compliance with the following standards is the obligation of all dental students:

A student will:

1. be respectful and courteous when dealing with patients, students, faculty, and staff.
2. address disagreement between faculty and/or students in a private setting off the clinic floor.
3. indicate when direct quotations are used, and when the ideas of another are incorporated into any work to be submitted for academic credit, those ideas must be appropriately acknowledged.
4. not make negative remarks in a patient’s presence. Significant negative criticism should be given in a private setting.
5. understand that any form of harassment relating to sex, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, age, national origin, disability or medical condition will be considered unethical. (The University Policy on Sexual Harassment is included as Appendix D).
6. safeguard the integrity of all research; any violation should be reported to the alleged violator’s supervisor.
7. follow the directives of assigned instructors and faculty members. Students cannot selectively identify alternate faculty members who advise differently. If there is a difference of opinion perceived by the student regarding faculty decisions or judgments, the Department Chairperson or Chairperson’s designee shall make the final judgment or decision.
8. adhere to departmental standards for patient care.
9. respect the rights, safety and welfare of other persons in the School of Dental Medicine (patients, faculty, students, staff and visitors).
   

B. Clinical Conduct

The following guidelines, which are based on the current ADA Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct, shall be adhered to by all students. The following guidelines have been derived from that document for Tufts University School of Dental Medicine.

1. In the clinics, the primary professional obligation shall be to provide competent and timely delivery of quality care within the bounds of clinical circumstances presented by the School and the patient, with due consideration being given to the needs and desires of the patient.
2. No person shall be discriminated against because of sex, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, age, national origin, disability, or medical condition.
3. Patient records must be maintained in such a way as to safeguard confidentiality and to protect the patient’s welfare. Patient records must be accessible at all times to other faculty, staff or students to allow provision of care; patient records should not be kept at the student’s residence. Students must maintain professional confidentiality about patients.
4. Students shall treat patients under the supervision of Tufts University School of Dental Medicine faculty in approved locations.
5. Consultation from another specialist or specialty clinic at the School of Dental Medicine shall be sought whenever the welfare of the patient calls for it.
6. A student shall refer a patient for evaluation to any other medical specialty deemed necessary by the student in consultation with clinical faculty.
7. Patients should be informed of their present oral health status without disparaging comments made about prior services, whether or not provided at the School of Dental Medicine. Unjustified comments can be grounds for disciplinary action against the student making such statements. When accepted professional standards of care are not followed, the Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs or his designate should be notified at the earliest possible time.
8. Care being rendered to patients shall not be represented in a false or misleading manner. Anyone who represents that a dental treatment recommended or performed has the capacity to cure or alleviate disease or other conditions, when those representations are not based on accepted scientific knowledge or research, is acting unethically.
9. Fees being charged for providing care shall not be represented in a false or misleading manner. Incorrect treatment dates may not be reported to a third party payment agency in order to assist a patient in obtaining benefits that otherwise would be disallowed. A dental procedure on a third party claim form may not be incorrectly described in order to allow a greater payment, or to make a non-covered procedure appear to be covered.
10. Patients should be informed, in language the patient could reasonably be expected to understand, of the nature of the proposed treatment, any recognized alternatives, the possible risk, complications, and anticipated benefits involved in the treatment and recognized alternatives. Information should be provided to a patient in a manner that allows the patient to make informed decisions regarding his treatment. Departmental requirements shall take lower priority to the patient’s welfare, in situations of conflict.
11. A final written treatment plan will be provided to the patient.
12. Before undertaking patient treatment, the student shall be certain the patient has read about the proposed treatment in the Informed Consent Booklet, understood the information provided and signed the informed consent form.
13. A person’s training or competence shall not be represented in any way that would be false or misleading.
14. Inserting false information on a patient record, altering or forging a signature, or misrepresenting any material fact regarding a diagnosis, treatment, or management of a patient shall be considered unethical.
15. No student shall treat patients while under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances, or, as judged by appropriate qualified treating authority, any medical treatment that could impair clinical judgment or psychomotor function. (Students are obliged to notify the treating authority of the student’s responsibility regarding patient care.)
16. Prescribing or distributing controlled substances in violation of the law or University rules shall be considered unethical.
17. A patient’s confidential communication shall not be disclosed to any individual not involved in that patient’s care, unless permission has been granted in writing by the patient in accordance with School policy.
18. Failure to exercise approved infection control procedures is considered unethical behavior.
19. Services performed for patients shall be limited to those listed in an approved plan of care authorized by supervising faculty.
20. Failure to follow through with the approved signed plan of care in a timely manner is considered unethical, unless the patient is consulted and signed approval by a faculty member is obtained.
21. A research subject must grant informed consent for any test or procedure to be performed for the sole purpose of research.
22. Failure to treat patients in a timely fashion, failure to be in regular attendance in clinic in order to treat patients, unexcused absences which would result in not treating patients in a timely fashion, or misrepresenting patients’ desires about timely care or the desire for care, will be considered unethical.
23. Treating patients in a manner, which would knowingly harm the patient, is assault and will be dealt with in such fashion. Assault is a felony and is punishable under the law. Allegations of such treatment (for example, knowingly extracting a tooth in order to make a prosthesis for graduation requirements or intentionally causing a pulp exposure in order to necessitate root canal therapy) will be investigated and may be referred to the Campus Police.
24. Transfer of patients or treatment of patients from one student to another must be done with the signed permission of the student’s Practice Coordinator and the signed informed consent of the patient.
    

C. Computer Ethics

Use of Tufts Computer Services' facilities is a privilege extended to students of Tufts University. Tufts University cannot guarantee the privacy or security of users' computer files, or the anonymity of any user. The person issued an account is responsible for all use made of that account. Users of these facilities agree not to violate any of the following rules:

1. 1. Tufts' computer facilities (computers, printers, networks, software, etc.) may only be used by authorized persons for legitimate purposes relating to teaching, course work, clinical patient care, research, and administration at Tufts University.
   
   2. No one may use, access, alter, or copy the accounts, passwords, directories, files, or programs of any other user without that person's consent.
   
   3. No one may use Tufts' computer facilities for inappropriate purposes such as: the playing of practical jokes, deliberate breaching of security, the sending of abusive or offensive material, deliberate interference with the work of other users, or the introduction of computer viruses.
   
   4. No one may copy copyrighted software or run illegally copied software at Tufts.
   
   5. All students wishing to obtain access to or use Tufts computer facilities are required to sign a statement agreeing to comply with the Information Technology Responsible Use Policy at the time of initiation.

Any such violation by a student may result in disciplinary action by the Associate Dean of Student Affairs through the aegis of the Ethics, Professionalism, and Citizenship Committee. See Appendix C for additional information.

D. Massachusetts Computer Crime Law

This Massachusetts law:

• Prohibits unauthorized access to any computer system, either directly or by network or telephone. The law provides that the use of password authoriz