A new Chair and a new way forward

In December the GDC once again ducked the issue by failing to vote on whether dentists should continue to use the title 'Dr', whilst ratifying its guidance on ethical advertising. The GDC is aware that, in asking  its Standards Committee to consider the use of the title 'doctor' by dentists as part of its investigation into the Principles of Ethical Advertising, it has unwittingly put itself in a dilemma that it has hitherto be unable to resolve, in that included in its recommendations, the Standards Committee concluded that dentists in the UK should no longer be permitted to use the title 'Dr'.

The GDC is now intending to consider the matter when it meets in March. It realises that it is in danger of inflicting immense damage on itself, over an issue which is entirely of its own making, if it votes to implement a ban it will be unable to enforce. Consequently it needs to find a way of accepting the recommendations of the Standards Committee on advertising, whilst rejecting its recommendations on use of the title 'Dr'. In a previous posting I outlined reasons why the GDC should have no difficulty in so doing.

The Council now has a new Chair in the person of Kevin O'Brien. He points out that the role of the GDC is not to represent registrants but to "take considered decisions on matters which may affect the standards of care patients receive". Let us hope he encourages the Council to realise that, in taking those decisions, it cannot act as some medieval Star Chamber and not consider the impact a decision to implement a ban would have on the status of the profession, as dentists try to explain to their patients why they should no longer be called 'Dr'.