부산대학교 도서관

We have witnessed a long and heated debate on the potential health hazards from amalgam in dental restorations, and on the effect of amalgam removal. The debate reveals a series of moral challenges. Some of these are related to lack of evidence, e.g., how to act under professional uncertainty. Others are related to patient autonomy, professional autonomy and the dentist-patient-relationship. To acknowledge patients’ suffering in cases with uncertain etiology and treatment effects appears to be crucial in order to maintain trust. Some moral challenges concern the very professional identity of dentists: should methods without documented effect be used only to please or alleviate the patient? The amalgam debate illustrates that there is a close connection between professional and moral issues.