DCA05DE Dental Ethics and the Digital Age, 3rd Edition _ _________________________________________
some point. Since Dr. Joy had developed a rapport with Julia over the years, she felt comfortable and compelled to ask how things were going in her life. What was new? What was the teenage buzz around town? What new technology was taking the teen world by storm? Maybe Dr. Joy could get to the root of what bothered Julia. The questions seemed to upset Julia. She snapped back, “There is no buzz or great new technology as far as I’m concerned. I am sick of people on Facebook spreading lies and rumors about me. I might as well never go on the Internet again!” Further questioning revealed that Julia was a victim of cyberbullying. As a result, Dr. Joy spoke with Julia’s mother after the appointment to initiate an intervention. Although initially annoyed, Julia was grateful for the opportunity to finally reveal the truth. She was tired of pretending everything was okay in her life. 1. How can dental professionals identify and respond to signs of bullying disclosed by patients or their parents during a dental visit? 2. What role can dental professionals play in supporting young patients who may be experiencing cyberbullying, and how can they encourage victims to seek help? Bullying, whether it be traditional bullying or cyberbullying, should be considered when patients or parents of patients disclose, either to dental professionals or to staff, any of the previously listed symptoms. Several guidelines for stopping this type of bullying can be found on the Cyberbullying Research Center website https://cyberbullying.org/cyberbullying- fact-sheet-identification-prevention-and-response (Sameer and Patchin, 2024). At the top of the list is encouraging the victim to reach out to a trustworthy adult. Adults can do a lot to improve a cyberbullying situation. The dental office scenario above demonstrates that asking a few simple questions may make a big difference in a young person’s life. CONSUMER REVIEW WEBSITES Consumer reviews are a part of everyday decision-making and have existed for as long as the marketplace offers choices. Before the Internet, consumers relied on verbal or written communication to provide feedback on consumer products, services, and entertainment opportunities. Individual profes- sional critics published reviews in newspapers and magazines or on the radio and television for audiences that were often familiar with their distinctive styles. This type of review can still be found, and consumers may trust certain critics to make reports consistent with their tastes. Thus, reviews might be completely trusted or “taken with a grain of salt” if the consumer tends to disagree with that critic. In this scenario, the reader or listener knows that the opinion is that of an individual, possibly an individual in whose opinion they have little faith, and the consumer might choose to try a product or service knowing that there is a good possibility that they might disagree with this one other person. In this case, the review is only a small factor in purchasing an item or participating in a particular new experience.
Dentists should be aware that jurisdictional laws vary in their definitions of abuse and neglect, reporting requirements, and the extent to which immunity is granted to good-faith reporters. The variances may raise potential legal and other risks that should be considered while keeping in mind the duty to put the welfare of the patient first. Therefore, a dentist’s ethical obligation to identify and report suspected cases of abuse and neglect can vary from one juris- diction to another. Dentists are ethically obligated to keep current their knowledge of both identifying abuse and neglect and reporting it in the jurisdiction(s) where they practice (ADA, 2023). How does bullying cause harm? Bullying itself is repeated, aggressive behavior that involves an imbalance of power or strength. Hitting, shoving, threatening, teasing, intimidating, name-calling, spreading rumors, or stealing and damaging belongings are common behaviors of traditional bullying (stop- bullying.gov, n.d.a). Sameer and Patchin (2023) and stopbul- lying.gov (n.d.a) list common signs and symptoms of children who are cyberbullied, which may exhibit severe symptoms, some of which parallel the symptoms of child abuse. Some of these include: • alcohol and drug use, • anxiety, depression, and sadness, • bed-wetting in younger children, • sudden disinterest in school with a sudden decrease in grades, • poor grades/refuses to go to school, • lower self-esteem, • health problems and an increase in somatic complaints such as stomachaches and headaches, • decreased social activity, • withdrawal from family and friends, • becoming distraught or angry after online or cell phone use. All 50 states and all US territories have laws against bully- ing (stopbullying.gov, n.d.a.). The stopbullying.gov website provides Information summarizing these laws. Dental profes- sionals should be familiar with the laws in their jurisdiction. Consider the following case. CASE STUDY 4 Julia, a bright 13-year-old girl, had been a patient of Dr. Joy’s for most of her life. Dr. Joy had noticed a stark change in Julia’s behavior during her two most recent routine dental visits. The child seemed quieter, and her oral hygiene had become poor. In fact, Julia’s overall personal hygiene seemed to have degenerated. Previously very talkative and animated, Julia barely answered Dr. Joy’s questions regarding her teeth. At first, Dr. Joy attributed her behavior to growing pains in her teenage years. Many adolescents undergo a sullen, sloppy phase at
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