Is it ethical to immobilize patient’s jaws for weight loss? A deontological perspective
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17159/sadj.v78i03.16275Keywords:
anaesthetic, deontology, asphyxiation, intermaxillary, temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD)Abstract
The demand for elective aesthetic treatment is increasing globally, in line with aggressive media portrayals of a certain standard of beauty and body image. This trend is also changing the landscape of modern dentistry and is blurring the role of dental professionals as healthcare providers versus aestheticians. This article explores the ethical dilemma that dental professionals are faced with when patients request a treatment modality such as intermaxillary fixation, to treat a medical condition or enhance aesthetics through weight loss. We evaluate whether intermaxillary fixation for weight loss falls within the dentist’s scope of practice from a deontological perspective.
Downloads
Metrics
References
Rosentstand N. The Moral of the story: An introduction to Ethics. 8th edition. Mountain View. Mayfield, 2017.
Fieser J. No date. Duty theories [online]. Internet Encylopedia of Philosophy ISSN 2161-0002. Available from:https://iep.utm.edu/ ethics/#SH2b.
Hupp JR, Ellis E, Tucker, MR. Cont Oral Maxillofac Surg. St. Louis: Mosby Elsevier, 2008; 383: 385-8.
Perry MBP. Principles of fracture management: Timing, reduction and choice of fixation. In: Maxillofac Surg. 2007: 48–61.
Kayani SG, Ahmed W, Farooq M, Rehman AUR, Nafees Q, Baig, AM. Weight Loss Due To Maxillomandibular Fixation in Mandibular Fractures. Pak Oral Dent J. 2015: 374–76.
Rodgers S, Goss A, Goldney R, Thomas D, Burnet R, Phillips P, Kimber C, Harding P, Wise P. Jaw wiring in treatment of obesity. Lancet. 1977; 309(8024): 1221-23. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(77)92434-5
Laskin DM. Oral surgeons face a weighty problem. J Oral Surg. 1974; 32(9): 646-7.
Wood GD. The early results of treatment of the obese by a diet regimen enforced by maxillomandibular fixation. J Oral Surg. 1977; 35(6): 461.
Garrow JS. Proceedings: Dental splinting in the treatment of hyperphagic obesity. The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society. 1974; 33(2): 29A.
Al-Dhubhani MK, Al-Tarawneh AM. The role of dentistry in treatment of obesity– review. Saudi Dent J. 2015; 6(2):152-6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjdr.2014.11.005
Mathus‐Vliegen EMH, Nikkel D, Brand HS. Oral aspects of obesity. Int Dent J. 2007; 57(4): 249-56. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1875-595X.2007.tb00128.x
Nwoga MC, Maduakor SN, Ndukuba AC. Voluntary jaw wiring in Nigeria: Reasons and treatment outcome. Int J Med Health Dev. 2019; 24(1): 28. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/ijmh.IJMH_3_19
Cannell H. 1992. Enforced intermaxillary fixation (IMF) as a treatment for obesity. Obes Surg. 1992; 2(3): 225-30. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1381/096089292765560097
Behbehani F, Al-Aryan H, Al-Attar A, Al-Hamad N. Perceived effectiveness and side effects of intermaxillary fixation for diet control. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2006; 35(7):.618-23. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijom.2006.01.010
Shephard BC, Townsend GC, Goss AN. The oral effects of prolonged intermaxillary fixation by interdental eyelet wiring. Int J Oral Surg. 1982; 11(5):.292-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0300-9785(82)80028-8
Kharma MY, Aws G, Tarakji B. Are dentists involved in the treatment of obesity? J Int Soc Prev Community Dent. 2016; 6(3): 183–8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/2231-0762.183112
Thor A, Andersson L. Interdental wiring in jaw fractures: effects on teeth and surrounding tissues after a one-year follow-up. Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2001; 39(5): 398-401. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1054/bjom.2001.0670
Mediratta A. Effects of interdental/intermaxillary wiring on teeth and periodontal tissues in the management of dentoalveolar and jaw fractures. J Dent Special. 2016; 4:10-13. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5958/2393-9834.2016.00002.4
Rachels J, Rachels S. The Elements of Moral Philosophy. 9th edition. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2019.
Van der Reyden D. The right to respect for autonomy: Part 1-What is autonomy all about? S Afric J Occup. 2008; 38(1): 27-31.
Health Professionals Council of South Africa. About us [online]. Pretoria: Health Professionals Council of South Africa. 2020. Available from: < https://www.hpcsa.co.za/?contentId=463&actionName=About%20Us>.
Health Professionals Council of South Africa. Ethical and professional rules of the Health Professionals Council of South Africa: Booklet 2- Guidelines for good practice in health care professions. Pretoria: Health Professionals Council of South Africa. 2016.
Health Professions Act, 1974. Health Professions Council Of South Africa. Regulations defining the scope of the profession of dentistry. 2009.
Hartshorne J, van Zyl A. Dental malpractice and its liabilities: Ethical and legal considerations every dentist should know. In dent S Afr. 2020; 10(2): 46-60.
Sykes LM, Evans WG, Dullabh HD. Part 14. Negligence versus Malpractice: The” Reasonable Man Rule”. S Afr Dent J. 2017; 72(9): 430-2. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17159/2519-0105/2017/v72no9a7
McQuoid-Mason D. Michael Jackson and the limits of patient autonomy. S Afric J Bioeth. Law 2012; 5(1): 11-14.
Simonsen MK, Hundrup YA, Obel EB, Grønbæk M, Heitmann BL. Intentional weight loss and mortality among initially healthy men and women. Nutr Rev. 2008; 66(7): 375-6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1753-4887.2008.00047.x
Williamson DF, Pamuk E, Thun M, Flanders D, Byers T, Heath C. Prospective study of intentional weight loss and mortality in overweight white men aged 40–64 years. Am J Epidemiol. 1999: 149(6): 491-503. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a009843
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
.png){kind=spacer}