Rights of patients undergoing dental treatment: beyond the Dental Code of Ethics

Abstract

Patients' Rights are the specific rights of people undergoing health treatment arising from the professional-patient relationship. These rights are derived from Human Rights based on the patient's intrinsic dignity in respect for their self-determination and bodily integrity. The purpose of this work is to identify and specify the rights of patients undergoing dental treatment. A normative theoretical research was carried out, under the theoretical framework of Aline Albuquerque's works that deal with Patients' Rights, also involving analysis of international legislation and Brazilian legislation that dealt with these rights. The following rights of patients undergoing dental treatments, arising from Human Rights, were identified and specified: 1) right to life; 2) right to privacy; 3) right not to be discriminated against; 4) right to freedom; 5) right to health; 6) right to information and 7) right not to be subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment.