Opinion ID: 1700188
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: standard of professional competence required of dentists

Text: Since the Board found appellant to have negligently performed patient care, a preliminary inquiry to review that decision is to determine the standard of care he supposedly violated. SDCL 36-6-8.4 states as follows: The board of dentistry shall: (1) Through its policies and activities, by rule establish standards for and promote the safe and qualified practice of dentistry.... (3) By rule, establish educational training and competency standards governing the examination and practice of practitioners under this chapter.... Despite this legislative authorization to set state-wide standards of competence for the practice of dentistry, the rules promulgated by the Board pursuant to this chapter fail to contain any such standard or standards. Neither party has cited us to any other statutory or administrative definitions concerning the minimum requirements of competence for the practice of dentistry. Therefore, it would appear that the sole standard in existence is that which is used in tort actions. The same rule of law applies to all professions. Lenius v. King, 294 N.W.2d 912 (S.D.1980), Magbuhat v. Kovarik, 382 N.W.2d 43 (S.D.1986). In performing professional services for a [patient], a [dentist] has the duty to have that degree of learning and skill ordinarily possessed by [dentists] of good standing engaged in the same type of practice in the same or a similar locality. It is his further duty to see that care and skill ordinarily exercised in like cases by members in good standing of his profession engaged in the same line of practice in the same or similar locality under similar circumstances, and to be diligent in an effort to accomplish the purpose for which he is employed. A failure to perform any such duty is negligence. Lenius at 913. See also S.D. Pattern Jury Instruction 105.01. For the finder of fact, the issue then becomes whether the professional deviated from this required standard of care. Magbuhat, supra .