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Dental indemnity

Pragmatic ethics

British Dental Journal volume 236, pages 620–621 (2024)Cite this article

Key points

  • There are three classical ethical theories - deontology, utilitarianism and virtue ethics. Virtue ethics is the application of a virtue described as ‘practical wisdom'.

  • Many professional codes of practice focus on duty and obligation.

  • Ethical and unethical behaviours are evoked by systemic features.

  • Ethical pluralism offers a solution for ethical re-orientation.

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Fig. 1

References

  1. Shaw D. Ethics, professionalism and fitness to practise: three concepts, not one. Br Dent J 2009; 207: 59-62.

  2. Philosophos. Understanding Virtue Ethics, Utilitarianism and Deontology. 2023. Available at https://www.philosophos.org/ethical-terms-virtue-ethics-utilitarianism-deontology (accessed April 2024).

  3. Prentice R. Teaching behavioural ethics. J Legal Stud Educ 2014; 31: 325-365.

  4. Bazerman M H, Tenbrunsel A E. Blind Spots: Why We Fail to Do What's Right and What to Do about It. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2011.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dental Director, Dental Protection, UK

    Raj Rattan MBE

Authors
  1. Raj Rattan MBE
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Correspondence to Raj Rattan MBE.

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Cite this article

Rattan MBE, R. Pragmatic ethics. Br Dent J 236, 620–621 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-024-7341-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-024-7341-8

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