Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-07
METHODS TOPIC
|. At DENTAL SESSION
"unfortunate Commercial.
ism" Called to Attention
of Association.

An unfortunate commercialism" that
is being thrust into the dental profess
sion by keen business men" was form
ally called to the attention of the Amer
lean Dental Association today at the
opening meeting of its seventy first an
nual session in the Mayfiower Hotel.
The associations judicial council adj
vised the organizations house OF dele
gates that in its opinion several large
and outstanding dental societies have
indirectly violated or were tempted to
violate" the spirit Of its code Of ethics
declaring against the giving OF testi-
monials concerning the supposed virtue
Of dental preparations foisted on the
public.
In bringing the matter to the atten-
ton of the associat tons governing body,
the judicial council cited an interested
exchange of correspondence between Its
chairman and DR.. Frank A. Delabarre
Of Boston and a supplementary opinion
OF a Boston attorney that dentists In
dividually might be held financially
liable for testimonials.
Dental Pastes and Creams.
The Oral Hygiene Council of Massa-
chusetts. taking cognizance that tooth
pastes and dental creams" offered for
sat, to the American public are often
advertised In such way as to mislead,
proposed that the council stand ready to
indorse ANY preparation known to be
harmless. effective and well adapted for
general use" Resolutions were adopted
setting forth its purpose. and were SUBJ
mitted to an attorney with questions as
to the legal aspect and danger Of an
oral hygiene council. dental society or
an individual making such Endorsement.
The judicial council told the asso-
cations governing body today that the
action contemplated by the Massachu-
sets society had been described by the
attorney as being packed with dyna-
mite"
Specifying several actions at law that
might be instituted by persons dissatis-
fed with the product Endorsed. the at
torney pointed out that II the society
was not incorporated. as most OF them
are not. action could be brought against
the members individually.
Il understand" he wrote In this
connection. that an Endorsement by a
single practicing dentist is worth
facturers. II. therefore. a considerable
group Of influential dentists indorse
product the effect on competing manu-
facterers would be very great and their
financial losses would run very high"
Another Aspect Told.
Still another aspect OF commercialism
was brought to attention OF the assoc
citation. The chairman Of the judicial
council, DR.. G. Walter Dittmar OF Chi
caso, reported that DIR. Delabarre had
directed the councils attention to the
fact that some of the outstanding dem
tai societies were permitting manufac-
turers OF denal products to advertise
their products by furnishing the Socie-
ties with something" essential to the
success of their meetings.
This exchange Of courtesy. by which
the manufacturer subtly obtains what
can be construed as an Endorsement OF
his product, was described by DR..
Delabarre. The manufacturer fur
nished the dental society with an
orchestra at It's social functions and to
reciprocate the society advertises the
fact in the announcements of its meet
ings and its oficial program. The
manufacturer promises also to advertise
the fact and incidentally the meeting
in its advertisements.
The questions raised by DR.. Delabarre
were whether the arrangement Is ethi-
cal and whether the society Is not
indirectly indorsing the manufacturer
product to the general public by this
cordial linking of names.
In reply, DR.. Dittmar. who wrote the
associations revised code. said that
while he did not have in mind the
ethical controlling of dental societies, he
could see, in view of the trend, a need
for reasonable professional control to
check to an extent at least the un-
fortunate commercialiSm that Is being
thrust into our professional programs
by keen business men,"
Would Avoid Hampering.
I'm my opinion" he said, ut is the
scheme in the organization OF the
American Dental Association to permit
its constituent societies considerable
latitude and not hamper them locally.
yet there are certain fundamental pro-
fessional and ethical principles that 1t
is proper should be observed by all.
NO doubt, societies can do certain
things and not be criticized that an in
dividual could not possibly get by with.
vet some societies have gone beyond
reasonable limit in this respect"
DR.. Dittmar questioned the authoriw
of the American Dental Association 10
consider charges brought against a So
ciety, but he spoke for the judicial
council individually in declaring against
the practices discussed. and expressed
the opinion that the organiza tons code
Of ethics should apply to the constit-
uent and local societies. as we'll as to
the individual members Of the aSsocia-
ton.
furthermore, the council recommend
ed to the house of delegates that Sec
ton two of its code of ethics be amend
ed to declare It unethical for dentists
"or dental societies" to give out testi-
monials, directly or indirectly" con-
corning 1.-THE supposed virtue Of secret
or proprietary preparations. such as
remedies, vaccines, mouth washes. denti-
frices, or other articles or materials
foisted on the public claiming radical
cure or prevention Of disease by their
use"
Reports of officers were read to the
house of delegates when the body con-
vened at 10 o'clock DR.. Perry r. Howe
of Boston presided and delivered the
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