Final answer:
The principle of veracity is crucial in healthcare, including dental hygiene, as it fosters patient trust. Moral dilemmas arise when ethical principles conflict, such as truth-telling vs. avoiding harm, requiring consideration of long-term trust and care ethics' value-based approach.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ethical principle of veracity in healthcare refers to the obligation of healthcare professionals to tell the truth and be honest with patients. Applying this to a dental hygienist, the statement 'The dental hygienist should always demonstrate the ethical principle of veracity, because the failure to do so results in a lack of trust on the part of the patients' is correct. It is essential for maintaining trust between the patient and the healthcare provider.
When resolving conflicts between two perfect duties, such as 'never tell a lie' and 'avoid harming someone', professionals might find themselves in a moral dilemma. For instance, telling the truth could potentially harm someone, which requires careful consideration of the situation. Ethical practices in clinical settings must also consider patients’ rights, informed consent, confidentiality, and honest communication. Moreover, moral principles like the Golden Rule suggest treating others as one would like to be treated, complicating the act of lying even in situations where it might seemingly protect others. Professionals must weigh the long-term consequences of lying, as the breakdown of trust can be detrimental to therapeutic relationships and patient care.
In the field of care ethics, the focus is on values, relationships, and understanding all perspectives involved in a conflict to reach a comprehensive, informed decision. This value-based approach is especially pertinent in medicine and nursing.