CDAD-Dentist
Well-Being Committee
24-hour
Hotline: (800) 468-2004
The CDAD-Dentist Well-Being Committee benefits
impaired professionals* and those close to them.
1. Maintain a 24-hour hotline publicized in the Massachusetts Dental Society Journal and Newsletter.
2. Identify and assist chemically dependent dentists before professional impairment* occurs.
3. Intervene when requested by significant others, family members, or peers.
4. Oversee peer support group meetings, currently an average of 20 per month in four distinct Massachusetts locations.
5. Provide preventive education by lecturing at three Massachusetts dental schools, conventions, conferences and meetings, by publishing in dental journals, and by direct mailings.
6. Sponsor hospitality room and educational booth at the Yankee Dental Congress.
7. Liaise with the Board of Registration in Dentistry (BORID) and the Massachusetts Dental Society (MDS).
8. Advocate for the chemically dependent dentists.
9. Monitor attendance of those on consent agreements with BORID and/or the Massachusetts Professionals Recovery System (MPRS).
10. Represent the MDS at the ADA Dentist Health & Wellness Advisory Committee (DHWAC).
11. Network with other states and other health care professions with similar programs.
12. Provide temporary coverage of office in case of in-patient treatment of dentist.
13. Procure peer assistance in finding employment.
14. Encourage recovering dentists to become involved in the MDS.
15. Promote relapse prevention efforts.
16. Maintain confidentiality and anonymity.
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A.D.A. "Principals of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct." Section 1, Advisory Opinions, CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY:ENDENCY:
2.D. Personal Impairment.
It is unethical for a dentist to practice while abusing controlled substances, alcohol or other chemical agents which impair the ability to practice. All dentists have an ethical obligation to urge chemically impaired colleagues to seek treatment. Dentists with first-hand knowledge that a colleague is practicing dentistry when so impaired have an ethical responsibility to report such evidence to the professional assistance committee of a dental society.
Advisory Opinion
2.D.1. Ability To Practice.
A dentist who contracts any disease or becomes impaired in any way that might endanger patients or dental staff shall, with consultation and advice from a qualified physician or other authority, limit the activities of practice to those areas that do not endanger patients or dental staff. A dentist who has been advised to limit the activities of his or her practice should monitor the aforementioned disease or impairment and make additional limitations to the activities of the dentist’s practice, as indicated.
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