Ethical Ethics Of Optometry

Introduction

Optometry is a profession that is privileged to help serve the eye care needs of the public and is entrusted by the government and society to do so in a professional and ethical manner. It is our responsibility as optometrist to always provide the best eye care to our patients. Our patient’s interests should be placed above self-interest and it is the primary ethical responsibility of all health care professionals to do so. This applies to optometrist especially as we responsible to look after the best interests of our patients with regard to the patient’s eye, vision and general health. Additionally, the ethical optometrist strives to protect and enhance the health and welfare of the public in general.

Ethics as a discipline

Confidentiality: Optometry students should not reveal any information about the patient to anyone unless they have patient’s consent to do so. They must hold in confidence all protected health and other personal information of the patient. This is an essential element of the optometrist-patient relationship that is necessary to build and maintain trust. The optometrist may reveal protected health and other personal information only with the written consent of the patient. However, exceptions to confidentiality do exist that are ethically justified. These exceptions occur either when it is necessary to protect the welfare of the patient or others when faced with a significant threat, or when the release of information is required by

Conflict of Interest: The care of a patient should never be influenced by the self-interests of the provider. Optometry students should avoid and/or remove themselves from any situation that presents the potential for a conflict of interest where the optometrist’s self-interests are in conflict with the best interests of the patient. Disclosure of all existing or potential conflicts of interest is the responsibility of the optometrist and should be appropriately communicated to the patient.

5. Relationships with Patients: Optometry students should avoid intimate relationships with patients as such relationships could compromise professional judgment or exploit the confidence and trust placed in them by the patient. If such a relationship does inadvertently develop, the professional care of this patient should be transferred to another clinician.

6. Informed Consent: Optometry students have a duty to inform patients or their legal guardian about the patient’s health care and health care options. The process of informed consent requires the optometrist to make a reasonable determination of the patient’s ability to reason and make informed decisions free of external coercion. Additionally, optometrists should explain to the patient or their legal guardian the patient’s health care status, what appropriate procedures are available, and the risks and benefits of each procedure. Finally, optometrists should make the effort to ensure that the patient or guardian has a reasonable