Provided by:  Jennifer Kirschenbaum, Esq.
March 10, 2020
 
Question:

Jennifer,
 
I am a dentist with my own practice.  I am concerned for my own health and my family.  From an ethical standpoint, do I have an obligation to treat patients with corona virus symptoms? 

Thanks, Dr. P
 

Answer:
Depends.  The ADA states you do have an obligation for emergency cases, and you do not for non-emergency cases.  The overriding priority is contagion spread - 

 https://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2020-archive/february/ada-releases-coronavirus-handout-for-dentists-based-on-cdc-guidelines

The CDC guidelines notes that, in cases when a patient presents with symptoms of a respiratory infection, DHCP may consider postponing non-emergency or elective dental procedures until a patient is no longer contagious with diseases that may be transmitted through airborne, droplet, or contact transmission (e.g., sneezing, coughing, and contact with skin).

If urgent dental treatment is necessary, DHCP and medical providers should work together to determine the appropriate precautions on a case-by-case basis to avoid the potential spread of diseases among patients, visitors, and staff. Because dental settings are not typically designed to carry out all of the Transmission-Based Precautions that are recommended for hospital and other ambulatory care settings, DHCP and medical providers will need to determine whether the facility is an appropriate setting for the necessary services for a potentially infectious patient.

Relevant newly issued guidance also is available at the New York Department of Labor, available here - https://health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/coronavirus/providers.htm.  


 

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