D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 17, r. 17-4213
A dentist shall not accept or perform professional responsibilities which the dentist knows or has reason to know that the dentist is not competent to perform.
A dentist shall not abandon or neglect a patient under and in need of immediate professional care, without making reasonable recommendations for the continuation of such care.
A dentist shall not willfully harass, abuse, or intimidate a patient either physically or verbally.
A dentist shall maintain a record for each patient which shall:
Upon request of a patient or the patient's representative, a dentist shall make available to the patient or the patient's representative a copy of the patient's record in accordance with the following:
A dentist shall respect a patient's rights to self-determination and treat the patient according to the patient's desires, within the bounds of accepted treatment.
A dentist shall inform a patient of the proposed treatment, and any reasonable alternatives, in a manner that allows the patient to become involved in treatment decisions.
A dentist shall protect the confidentiality of patient records and maintain patient records in a manner consistent with the protection of the welfare of the patient and all applicable District of Columbia and federal laws.
A dentist shall make every effort to refrain from harming the patient.
A dentist shall keep his or her knowledge of dentistry and skills current while he or she is engaging in clinical practice of dentistry.
A dentist shall know his or her own limitations and shall refer a patient to a specialist or other health care professional whenever the welfare of a patient will be safeguarded or advanced by utilizing those who have special skills, knowledge, and experience.
A dentist shall seek consultation with a specialist or other health care professional, if possible, whenever it would be in the patient's best interest.
When patients visit or are referred to specialists or consulting dentists for consultation:
A dentist who is called upon to render a second opinion regarding a diagnosis or treatment plan recommended by a patient's treating dentist, shall not have a vested interest in that recommendation.
A dentist shall know when and under what circumstances delegation of patient care to auxiliaries is appropriate.
A dentist shall only assign to qualified auxiliaries those duties which can be legally delegated.
A dentist shall prescribe and supervise the patient care provided by all auxiliary personnel working under his or her direction.
A dentist shall not practice dentistry while abusing or using controlled substances, alcohol, or any other chemical agents, which impair the ability to practice.
A dentist shall urge chemically impaired colleagues to seek treatment, if possible.
A dentist with first-hand knowledge that a colleague is practicing dentistry when impaired by controlled substances, alcohol, or any other chemical agents shall report such evidence to the professional assistance committee of a dental society or the Board of Dentistry.
A dentist or auxiliary who contracts any disease, has a mental or physical impairment which affects his or her ability to safely practice, 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 his or her 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 dental practice shall monitor the disease or impairment and make additional limitations to the activities of his or her dental practice as indicated.
A dentist, regardless of his or her bloodborne pathogen status, shall immediately inform any patient who may have been exposed to blood or other potentially infectious material in the dental office of the need for post-exposure evaluation and follow-up and shall immediately refer the patient to a qualified health care practitioner who can provide post-exposure services.
In the event of an exposure incident as discussed in § 4213.23, a dentist shall provide information concerning his or her own bloodborne pathogen status to the evaluating health care practitioner, if the dentist is the source of the possible exposure, and submit to testing that will assist in the evaluation of the patient. If a staff member or other third person not regulated by the District of Columbia Board of Dentistry is the source of the possible exposure, the dentist shall encourage that person to cooperate as needed for the patient's evaluation.
Once a dentist has undertaken a course of treatment to provide services to a patient, the dentist shall not discontinue that treatment without first giving the patient adequate notice and the opportunity to obtain the services of another dentist and ensuring that the patient's oral health will not be jeopardized in the process.
A dentist shall not engage in interpersonal relationships with patients that could impair his or her professional judgment or risk the possibility of exploiting the confidence placed in him or her by a patient.
A dentist shall provide competent and timely delivery of dental care.
A dentist shall conduct himself or herself in a professional manner.
A dentist shall make the results and benefits of his or her research and development investigative efforts available to all when such are useful in safeguarding or promoting the health of the public.
A dentist shall not use patents or copyrights to restrict research or practice.
A dentist shall become familiar with the signs of abuse and neglect and report suspected cases to the proper authorities consistent with District of Columbia and federal laws.
While dentists, in serving the public, may exercise reasonable discretion in selecting patients for their practices, a dentist shall not refuse to accept patients into their practice or deny dental service to patients because of the patient's race, creed, color, sex, national origin, or sexual preference.
A dentist shall not refuse to provide treatment to an individual based solely on the fact that the individual is infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Hepatitis B Virus, Hepatitis C Virus, or another bloodborne pathogen.
A dentist shall make reasonable arrangements for the emergency care of his or her patients of record.
A dentist shall, when consulted in an emergency by patients with whom he does not have an established patient-practitioner relationship, make reasonable arrangements for their emergency care. If treatment is provided, the dentist, upon completion of treatment, shall return the patient to his or her regular dentist unless the patient expressly reveals a different preference.
A dentist shall report to the District of Columbia Board of Dentistry known instances of gross or continual faulty treatment by other dentists.
A dentist shall inform patients of their present oral health status without making disparaging comments about prior services.
When informing a patient of the status of his or her oral health, a dentist shall make comments that are truthful, informed and justifiable.
A dentist issuing a public statement with respect to the profession shall believe as well as have a reasonable basis to believe that the comments made are true.
A dentist may provide expert testimony when that testimony is essential to a just and fair disposition of a judicial or administrative action.
A dentist shall not agree to a fee contingent upon the favorable outcome of the litigation in exchange for testifying as a dental expert.
A dentist shall not accept or tender rebates or split fees.
A dentist shall not represent the care being rendered, or that is needed, to a patient in a false or misleading manner.
A dentist shall not remove amalgam restorations containing mercury from patients who are not allergic to mercury for the alleged purpose of removing toxic substances from the body, when such treatment is performed solely at the recommendation or suggestion of the dentist.
A dentist shall not remove sound or serviceable amalgam restorations containing mercury, at the request of a patient who is not allergic to mercury, without first obtaining appropriate informed consent from the patient, which includes but is not limited to advising the patient that:
A dentist shall not represent that dental treatment or diagnostic techniques recommended or performed by the dentist have the capacity to diagnose, cure or alleviate diseases, infections or other conditions, when such representations are not based upon accepted scientific knowledge or research.
A dentist shall not represent the fees being charged for providing care in a false or misleading manner.
A dentist shall not increase a fee charged to a patient solely because the patient is covered under a dental benefits plan.
A dentist shall not misrepresent treatment dates for the purpose of assisting a patient in obtaining benefits under a dental plan which benefits would otherwise be disallowed.
A dentist shall not misrepresent the dental procedures performed to receive a greater payment or reimbursement or to make a non-covered procedure appear to be a covered procedure.
A dentist shall not recommend or perform unnecessary dental services or procedures.
A dentist who presents educational or scientific information in an article, seminar or other program shall disclose to the readers or participants any monetary or other special interest the dentist may have with a company whose products are promoted or endorsed in the presentation. Disclosure shall be made in any promotional material and in the presentation itself.
A dentist who, in the regular conduct of his or her practice, engages in or employs auxiliaries in the marketing or sale of products or procedures to his or her patients shall not exploit the trust inherent in the dentist-patient relationship for his or her own financial gain.
A dentist shall not induce his or her patients to purchase products or undergo procedures by misrepresenting the product's value, the necessity of the procedure or the dentist's professional expertise in recommending the product or procedure.
In the case of a health-related product used by or recommended by a dentist, it is not enough for the dentist to rely on the manufacturer's or distributor's representations about the product's safety and efficacy. The dentist shall inquire into the truth and accuracy of such claims and verify that they are founded on accepted scientific knowledge or research.
A dentist shall disclose to his or her patients all relevant information the patient needs to make an informed purchase decision, including whether the product is available elsewhere and whether there are any financial incentives for the dentist to recommend the product that would not be evident to the patient.
A dentist shall not advertise or solicit patients in any form of communication in a manner that is false or misleading in any material respect.
A general dentist who wishes to announce the services available in his or her practice may announce the availability of those services but shall not express or imply specialization.
A dentist shall not announce available services in any way that would be false or misleading in any material respect.
A dentist shall follow the Center for Disease Control's (CDC) guidelines on infection control and on universal precautions as they may be amended or republished from time to time.
A dentist shall not willfully harass, abuse, intimidate, insult, degrade, or humiliate a patient physically, verbally, or by any form of communication.
A dentist shall use a lead apron or its equivalent on all patients receiving an x-ray or radiograph, and when appropriate a thyroid collar shall also be used.
Whenever an entire dental practice or office moves to a new location or ceases operation, the owner or responsible dentist shall not later than 30 days after the change or closing:
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 17, r. 17-4213