Download Zipped Introduced WordPerfect SB0108.ZIP
[Status][Bill Documents][Fiscal Note][Bills Directory]

S.B. 108

             1     

ETHICS IN DENTAL ADVERTISING

             2     
2006 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Peter C. Knudson

             5     
House Sponsor: Lorie D. Fowlke

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill amends the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Practice Act to clarify the definition
             10      of unprofessional conduct with regard to making unsubstantiated claims of superiority
             11      in training or skill.
             12      Highlighted Provisions:
             13          This bill:
             14          .    defines an unsubstantiated claim of superiority in training or skill to include
             15      advertising as practicing in a dental specialty in which the dentist has not
             16      successfully completed the education specified for the dental specialty, as defined
             17      by the American Dental Association, without providing a prominent disclaimer that
             18      the specialty services will be provided by a general dentist.
             19      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             20          None
             21      Other Special Clauses:
             22          None
             23      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             24      AMENDS:
             25          58-69-502, as enacted by Chapter 116, Laws of Utah 1996
             26     
             27      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:


             28          Section 1. Section 58-69-502 is amended to read:
             29           58-69-502. Unprofessional conduct.
             30          (1) "Unprofessional conduct" includes, in addition to the definition in Section
             31      58-1-501 :
             32          [(1)] (a) sharing professional fees with an unlicensed person or paying any person for
             33      sending or referring a patient;
             34          [(2)] (b) making an unsubstantiated claim of superiority in training or skill as a dentist
             35      or dental hygienist or in the performance of professional services;
             36          [(3)] (c) refusing authorized agents of the division or state or local health authorities
             37      access to the facilities related to the practice of dentistry or dental hygiene during normal
             38      business hours for the purpose of inspection; and
             39          [(4)] (d) failing to maintain facilities, instruments, equipment, supplies, appliances, or
             40      other property or conditions related to the practice of dentistry in a sanitary condition consistent
             41      with the standards and ethics of the professions of dentistry or dental hygiene.
             42          (2) For purposes of Subsection (1)(b), an unsubstantiated claim of superiority:
             43          (a) includes:
             44          (i) advertising or otherwise holding oneself out to the public as practicing a dental
             45      specialty in which the dentist has not successfully completed the education specified for the
             46      dental specialty as defined by the American Dental Association; and
             47          (ii) using words in advertising such as "Endodontist," "Orthodontist," "Oral and
             48      Maxillofacial Surgeon," "Specialist," "Board Certified," "Diplomat," "Practice Limited to," or
             49      "Limited to Specialty of" when the dentist has not successfully completed the education
             50      specified for the dental specialty as defined by the American Dental Association; and
             51          (b) does not include a dentist who advertises as being qualified in a recognized
             52      specialty area of dental practice so long as each such advertisement, regardless of form,
             53      contains a prominent disclaimer that the dentist is licensed as a general dentist or that the
             54      specialty services will be provided by a general dentist.





Legislative Review Note
    as of 12-6-05 1:10 PM


Based on a limited legal review, this legislation has not been determined to have a high
probability of being held unconstitutional.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


[Bill Documents][Bills Directory]