Patient Relations and Treatment of Spouses

The College has received correspondence from dentists who feel it is appropriate to provide dental care to their spouses. We are aware that some dentists have been lobbying government in order to effect change in the current legislation.

Read the College's Statement on Patient Relations for more information on this topic.

Ministry of Health Services Makes No Exception for Dentistry on Patient Relations

In February 2011, the provincial government provided CDSBC with a letter outlining its policy on patient relations.

Under the Health Professions Act, CDSBC is required to establish a patient relations program to “seek to prevent professional misconduct, including professional misconduct of a sexual nature.”

Professional misconduct of a sexual nature is defined as sexual intercourse or other forms of sexual relations between a dentist or CDA and a patient. This is defined to include touching, behaviour or remarks of a sexual nature.

This is differentiated from touching, behaviour and remarks by the dentist or CDA towards the patient that are of a clinical nature and are appropriate to the service being provided.

Read the excerpt on Patient Relations in the Summer 2011 Sentinel for more information.