by KYW's Tony Romeo
A statewide organization representing Pennsylvania dentists is not happy with a new state regulation that forbids dentists from dating their patients.
Rob Pugliese, spokesman for the Pennsylvania Dental Association, says the new state regulation requires that dentists and hygienists end their professional relationship and wait three months before dating patients.
Pugliese believes the new rule can only have a chilling effect when it comes to keeping young dentists practicing in the state, particularly in rural areas:
“You’re just starting out, you’re going to want to have a social life. You’re going to go into an underserved area, making friends. And now, if you want to go out and have a cup of coffee with someone who’s a patient of yours, is this going to be construed as an inappropriate relationship?”
Pugliese says there were existing regulations on the issue that were adequate to protect patients, and that a normal, healthy romantic relationship with a patient does not constitute sexual misconduct.
E-Mail Story
Print Story
