Action | Amendment to restriction on advertising dental specialties |
Stage | NOIRA |
Comment Period | Ended on 9/5/2018 |
I voice strong opposition to the amendment that would allow practitioners to advertise as specialists even though they have not gained expertise through education, accredidation or experience. In addition to possibly allowing deceptive advertising there is a real risk that patients may be adversely affected by having a docore that is not truly an expert ion his/her field. Practioners who have spent considerable time and expense to become experts in their speciality should not be penalized by what amounts to false advertising. The public should feel confident that the practioner who has gained accrediation in a dental speciality is truly the practioner of choice when a specialist is needed.. If an non-credentialled practioner is able to advertise that they are an expert/specialist, it would lessen the impact that a post doctoral degree and years of practice in a dental specialty have on the public. It is through years of practice and education that the practioner is set apart. There is no way that the patient would know the dfference between a highly educated and practiced specialist and a new doctor just out of college. There should be some definite parameters in advertising to protect the patient. Truth is an important concept and one that the patient is entitled to.