Leo Briggs explains how understanding both the ethical and legal duty of candour helps dental professionals respond appropriately and maintain patient trust.
Most patients accept that mistakes can happen but they won’t forgive any attempt to cover them up. The duty of candour is key to retaining their trust.
The ethical duty of candour
The GDC says dental professionals have a duty of candour ‘when something goes wrong which causes, or has the potential to cause, harm or distress’ (GDC, 2019).
It expects Professional Conduct Committees to ‘take very seriously a finding that a dental professional took deliberate steps to avoid being candid with a patient or to prevent someone else from being so’.
The legal duty of candour
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