Anti-Discrimination & Patient Rights Policy

1. Purpose

Oasis Dental Group is committed to providing high-quality dental care in an environment that is safe, inclusive, respectful, and free from discrimination or harassment. This policy ensures that all patients and visitors are treated fairly and with dignity, while also respecting the professional judgment of our clinicians.

2. Scope

This policy applies to:

• All patients and visitors attending any Oasis Dental Group practice.
• All staff, contractors, and students interacting with patients.
• All settings, including in-practice, telephone, email, and digital communication.

3. Policy Statement

At Oasis Dental Group, every patient has the right to equal access to care and to be treated with respect. Discrimination against patients is unlawful and strictly prohibited. We will not tolerate less favourable treatment based on:

• Age
• Gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation
• Marital, parental, or carer status
• Pregnancy or potential pregnancy
• Race, colour, nationality, ethnicity, language, or cultural background
• Religious beliefs or political opinion
• Physical or mental disability, impairment, or illness
• Socioeconomic background or health insurance status

4. Patient Rights

Patients of Oasis Dental Group have the right to:

• Respect & Dignity: To be treated courteously, respectfully, and without prejudice.
• Fair Access: To receive dental care and advice regardless of their background, beliefs, or personal characteristics.• Privacy & Confidentiality: To have personal information protected in accordance with privacy laws.
• Safe Environment: To receive treatment in a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment.
• Feedback & Complaints: To provide feedback or lodge complaints without fear of discrimination or reduced quality of care.

5. Clinician Rights

Clinicians at Oasis Dental Group also have the right to:

• Professional Judgment: Decline to provide treatment that is unreasonable, unsafe, or not clinically indicated.
• Ethical Standards: Decline to provide treatment that conflicts with their professional training, clinical expertise, ethical obligations, or personal values and beliefs.
• Safety & Respect: Expect patients and visitors to behave respectfully and without discrimination, harassment, or abuse.

If treatment is declined on these grounds, clinicians will ensure patients are informed of the reasons and, where appropriate, offered referral options.

6. Staff Responsibilities

All staff, contractors, and students must:

• Treat patients and visitors fairly, respectfully, and without bias.
• Provide equal quality of care to all patients.
• Ensure communication is clear, inclusive, and culturally sensitive.
• Support patients with additional needs (e.g. language support, disability access) wherever reasonably practicable.
• Report any breaches of this policy immediately to management.

7. Patient Responsibilities

We ask that all patients and visitors:

• Treat staff and other patients with respect and courtesy.
• Refrain from discriminatory, abusive, or harassing behaviour.
• Communicate their needs honestly so that we can provide the best possible care.

Failure to respect staff or other patients may result in refusal of treatment or being asked to leave the premises.

8. Complaints and Resolution

• Patients may raise concerns directly with the Practice Manager or through the Oasis Dental Group support office.
• All complaints will be handled confidentially, fairly, and promptly.
• Where appropriate, issues will be addressed through mediation, corrective action, or escalation to relevant authorities.

9. Review

Oasis Dental Group will review this policy regularly to ensure compliance with current legislation, best practice standards, and the expectations of our patients, staff, and community.