SZBMU trains future dentists in decisions that matter beyond the drill

ISLAMABAD: Long before they perfect fillings and extractions, dental students at the School of Dentistry, Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University were guided into a different kind of clinic — one where choices are measured in ethics as much as in instruments. A specialized guest lecture on bioethics was conducted for third- and fourth-year clinical students, highlighting that professional judgment can be as lifesaving as any technical skill.

The lecture, titled “Obligations and duties of doctors towards patients: A bioethical perspective,” focused on preparing young clinicians for real-world dilemmas where treatment decisions shape patient safety, trust, and dignity. Rather than staying in theory, the session explored how everyday dental practice is filled with ethical crossroads that demand responsibility and honesty.

The guest speaker, Prof. Dr. Imran Alam Moheet of the Ziauddin College of Dentistry, Ziauddin University, connected ethical principles with routine chairside care. He stressed that dentistry is not defined only by precision and procedure, but by the values guiding each clinical action, from diagnosis to disclosure.

Discussions revolved around patient-centered care, informed consent, confidentiality, fairness in access to treatment, and truthful communication. Students were reminded that ethical conduct is not an optional extra but a foundation of safe healthcare and public confidence in the profession.

The academic activity was organized under the supervision of Dr Farooq Chaudhary, Deputy Director of the School of Dentistry, and drew participation from both faculty members and clinical students. The interactive format allowed students to reflect on the human impact of their future roles as healthcare providers.

Concluding the session, Prof Dr Bilal, Principal of the School of Dentistry, emphasized that modern dental practice demands strong moral grounding alongside clinical competence. He thanked Prof Dr Imran Alam Moheet for delivering a session that addressed the realities young dentists will soon face.

As patient awareness of rights and accountability continues to grow, such initiatives point toward a new generation of dentists in Pakistan — practitioners equipped not only with technical expertise, but with the ethical clarity needed to protect both oral health and human trust.