ETHICS OF THE DENTAL PROFESSION [ S.L.94.14 1
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 94.14
ETHICS OF THE DENTAL PROFESSION 
REGULATIONS
14th September, 1971
The NOTICE dated 14th September, 1971.
Title.
Profession Regulations.
Disciplinary 
jurisdiction.
2. The attention of members of the dental profession is drawn
to General Notice issued by the Medical Council on the 5th March,
1971 for the guidance of members of the professions upon which it
exercises disciplinary jurisdiction in respect of:
( a ) abuse of professional relationship, 
( b ) convictions, 
( c ) untrue certification,
( d ) advertising,
Cap. 101.
Regulations,
( f ) "covering",
( g ) commissions,
( h ) dichotomy,
( i ) under-cutting, and
( j ) professional secrecy,
the attention of members of the dental profession is drawn to the
General Notice issued by the Medical Council and mentioned in
regulation 2 of these Regulations.
Definition of 
practitioner.
3. Wherever "practitioner" is used in these Regulations it
means a dental surgeon or a dentist.
Practitioner not to 
hesitate to propose 
or accept 
consultation.
4. ( a ) A practitioner should not hesitate to propose or to
accept consultation with a professional colleague when
for any reason it appears desirable in the interest of the
patient. The attendance of a consulting practitioner
shall cease when the consultation is concluded unless
another appointment is arranged by the attending
practitioner.
( b ) When a practitioner in his rooms sees a patient at the
request of his medical attendant or of another
practitioner, it is his duty to write to the latter stating
his opinion on the case and the mode of treatment he
thinks should be adopted.
( c ) Differences of opinion should not be divulged
unnecessarily; but when there is an irreconcilable
difference of opinion, the circumstances should be
frankly and impartially explained to the patient’s
relatives. It is open to them or to him to seek further
advice, either preferably in consultation with those
2 [ S.L.94.14 ETHICS OF THE DENTAL PROFESSION
already in attendance or with the medical attendant or
practitioner only.
( d ) When it becomes the duty of a practitioner occupying
an official position to see and report upon a case of
illness or injury he should communicate with the
patient informing him that it is his right to ask his
practitioner to be present during the examination. The
practitioner seeing the case officially shall
scrupulously avoid interference with, or remarks upon,
the treatment or diagnosis that has been adopted.
Practitioner must 
not disclose 
information.
5.   A practitioner must not disclose voluntarily, without the
consent of the patient, preferably written, information, including
certification which he has obtained in the course of his professional
relationship with the patient. Exception to this rule is made only by
the requirements of the law.
Patient already 
under the care of 
another 
practitioner.
6. ( a ) When a practitioner is requested to attend a patient
already under the care of another practitioner, he shall
decline to do so, except in consultation with the
practitioner in attendance, or in cases the consultation
be not agreed to, until the practitioner in attendance
has been informed, in writing, if possible, that his
services are no longer desired. This rule does not apply
in cases of emergency.
( b ) A practitioner called upon in an emergency to visit a
patient, who under ordinary circumstances would have
been attended by another practitioner, shall, when the
emergency is over, retire in favour of the ordinary
practitioner, but shall be entitled to charge the patient
for his services.
( c ) When a practitioner is consulted at his own office, it is
not necessary for him to enquire if the patient is under
the care of another practitioner, but if that fact shall
transpire, the interest of the patient or courtesy
requires that the practitioner or medical attendant be
informed of the consultation and its results.
Practitioner not to 
accept a 
commission.
7. ( a ) No practitioner shall accept a commission or
consideration for the introduction of a patient to a
consultant, to a private hospital or other institution, or
to a medical practitioner, chemist, nurse, midwife or
other person or company and he shall not pay a
consideration for the introduction of patients to
himself.
( b ) A practitioner shall not participate in any division or
sharing of fees, except when in partnership, of which
the patient is not made aware, and this shall apply to
consultations between practitioners or medical
practitioners.
Advertisement. 8. A practitioner shall neither instigate nor condone any
advertisement relative to his professional status or work.
Change of address. 9. Any change of address and/or of surgery hours may be
ETHICS OF THE DENTAL PROFESSION [ S.L.94.14 3
communicated under cover to patients of the practice and
announced for not more than three times in the press provided the
announcements are made in normal type. There is no objection to a
suitable notice being placed in the waiting room.
Telephone 
directories.
10. A practitioner should not allow his name to appear in
special type, or as a special entry in a telephone directory. There is
however, no objection to the inclusion of degrees, or special post-
graduate diplomas.
Relationship with 
doctors.
11. The professional conduct of a practitioner is guided by
principles essentially similar to those adopted by the medical
profession and the relations between a doctor and a dentist should
be subject to the same considerations as those obtaining between a
general practitioner and a consultant.
When a practitioner, in whatever form of practice, has
reason to believe that a patient who requests him to give advice or
treatment, is suffering from a condition arising from, or in
connection with medical treatment, it is the duty of the practitioner
so approached to urge the patient to permit him to communicate
with the medical practitioner. Should the patient refuse this
proposal, the practitioner is at liberty to give such treatment as may
be necessary to deal with any case of emergency. The practitioner
so consulted shall not refer the patient to a second medical
practitioner unless he obtains from the patient permission to
disclose this fact to the first medical practitioner.
Where a patient has no doctor, it is proper, but only on the
specific request of the patient, for the practitioner to indicate the
name of a medical practitioner known to him who might be
consulted but he should not indicate to the patient the treatment
that he considers should be given by the medical practitioner. The
medical practitioner should, with the permission of the patient,
communicate to the doctor his opinion of the case. If the
practitioner should require a further medical or dental opinion, a
pathological or radiological report from a third party, or a reference
to a hospital he shall inform the medical practitioner concerned of
the action proposed and of the subsequent outcome.
A practitioner may select an anaesthetic for a patient but if
the anaesthetist is not the patient’s own doctor no objection should
be made to the patient inviting his own doctor to be present. Where
the patient is under medical care the dentist may be expected to
inform the patient’s doctor of any proposed operation requiring
anaesthetic.
