ETHICS, PROFESSIONALISM AND LEGAL EDUCATION IN MALAYSIAN UNDERGRADUATE DENTISTRY: A REFLECTION ON THE CURRENT REQUIREMENTS
https://doi.org/10.22452/jummec.vol23no2.10
- Author:
Usharani Balasingam
1
;
Ghee Seong Lim
2
;
Yeng Chen
2
Author Information
1. Faculty of Law, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
2. Department of Restorative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Dental Ethics;
Malaysian Undergraduate Dental Competencies;
Dental Code of Professional Conduct;
Dental Law;
Dental Professional Ethics and Malaysian Qualification Framework 2.0
- MeSH:
Ethics, Dental
- From:Journal of University of Malaya Medical Centre
2020;23(2):61-71
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
The undergraduate dental degree in Malaysia is regulated by the Malaysian Dental Council (MDC) (Standard of Undergraduate Competencies), Code of Professional Conduct of the Malaysian Dental Council, the Malaysian Qualification Framework 2.0 and the Malaysian Quality Agency (MQA) quality assurance documents. These primary documents emphasize the importance of professional ethics and law in dentistry as will be further detailed and discussed later. This study reflects on the need to integrate ethics, professionalism and law with sufficient coverage in terms of content and emphasis in the dental undergraduate curriculum. Literature and benchmarking practices are reviewed for a deeper reflection of the current needs in a professional dental ethics and law education course. The present study is primarily focused on regulatory requirements, legal cases and comparative literature to serve as a reference on how professional ethics and law courses may be conducted. As an incidental measure, a reflection as to how the course of study of professional ethics is delivered in a local university is considered in a selected local university’s undergraduate dental curriculum. The findings indicate that ethics professionalism and dental law is not given sufficient emphasis as it is included as one of the minor components within another overcrowded subject and the coverage of what is taught is limited in context. This paper is an invitation to all dental schools to review and reflect whether, given the emphasis on professional ethics, legal and regulatory compliance in the regulatory documents, it is adequately reflected in their dental curriculum. In this regard, some benchmarking references are done to suggest what such a course should cover, for consideration of the dental schools.
- Full text:202508120918356481062105.pdf
