College of Medicine and Dentistry Identifying Domestic and Sexual Violence Ethical and Legal Considerations

Apply now

Ethical and Legal Considerations

This scenario demonstrates the dentist taking into account legal and ethical considerations for a victim-survivor of domestic and sexual violence. Four different possible endings to the dentist-patient interaction are shown

Objectives of the Scenario

  • Demonstrate skills in discussing the concept of ‘informed consent’ with a patient who is a victim-survivor of domestic and sexual violence.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of documentation regarding DSV; considering legal, ethical, professional and organisational requirements.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of how ethical, legal, professional, and organisational documentation requirements may be in tension with the patient’s right to request that noting their disclosure of DSV be limited or omitted from their dental record.
  • Demonstrate developing understanding of the concept of ‘unintended consequences’ in relation to domestic and sexual violence, specifically in relation to mandatory reporting or reporting without the patient's consent

Video resource

This scenario demonstrates the dentist taking into account legal and ethical considerations for a victim-survivor of domestic and sexual violence. Four different possible endings to the dentist-patient interaction are shown The length of this video is 14:08 minutes

Print resource

woman looking scared.

This print resources includes:

  • Prompts to discuss the content in the video
  • Critical reflective questions
  • Links to relevant resources
Download the print resource

The following scripts are examples of how you can communicate with patients who are victim-survivors of DSV:

  • Screening
  • Opening the conversation
  • Risk assessment
  • Confidentiality
  • Potentially breaking confidentiality
  • Documentation
  • Trauma informed practice (following a disclosure of DSV)

Download the example scripts.

Please note

Each of the following scripts are examples only, and you will need to adapt them so they sound more ‘natural’ to you. Each time you use these scripts with a patient, you need to consider:

  • the patient’s particular circumstances
  • organisational policy and procedure
  • State/Territory legislative requirements
  • National legislative requirements
  • Requirements of your professional association.

Points to consider

  • self-care refers to activities to take care of our mental, emotional, and physiological well-being.
  • when working with people who have / are experiencing DSV, be attentive to signs of vicarious trauma.
  • concepts related to vicarious trauma include stress, secondary traumatic stress, compassion fatigue, empathetic distress, and burnout.
  • see the resources below for detailed information on the indicators of vicarious trauma and associated concepts.
  • ensure your workplace is enacting strategies to mitigate negative impacts of your work in general, and specifically in relation to vicarious trauma.

Relevant resources

There are many excellent resources on self-care and worker well-being available online or through specific worker training. Here are a few places you can start building your knowledge and skill set in relation to self-care, and mitigating vicarious trauma:

Acknowledgements

This collaborative project to develop video scenarios and educational resources involved many people from dentistry, social work, the domestic and sexual violence sector, and victim-survivors of domestic and sexual violence. We extend our sincere appreciation to:

  • The following organisations: James Cook University Social Work; James Cook University Dentistry; JCU Dental Clinic; Cairns Regional Domestic Violence Service; Be Conscious; Warringu Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation; Hudson Films; ADA-Dental Health Foundation.
  • The dentists who provided expert advice: Adjunct Associate Professor Andrew Lee, JCU; Dr Julee Birch, Australian Dental Health Foundation.
  • The people and organisations who participated in research that informed, and evaluated, the video scenarios and educational resources.
  • The research team: Dr Ann Carrington, Senior Lecturer, Social Work, James Cook University (JCU); Dr Felicity Croker, Adjunct Associate Professor, Dentistry, JCU; Dr Alex Dancyger, Lecturer, Dentistry, JCU; Simone Dewar, Research Assistant, Social Work, JCU; Dr Vinnitta Mosby, Lecturer, Social Work JCU – First Nations advisor.

We also acknowledge the kindly contributions of the dentist, dental staff, and actor in this video:

  • Dentist: Dr Poyan Barabari
  • Actor: Ina Indriana

With special thanks to the victim-survivors of domestic and sexual violence who participated in this research, and generously and courageously shared their stories.

QLD Gov coat of arms

This project was funded by Queensland Government Department of Justice and Attorney General.

View more scenarios