Professional Conduct, Ethics, Advertising, and Patient Solicitation
Mississippi expects dentists to advertise truthfully and to avoid exploitation of patients. The exam tests the boundary between permissible marketing and unprofessional conduct.
Core rules
- Advertising must be truthful and not misleading; avoid guarantees of results, unsubstantiated superiority claims, and statements likely to create false expectations.
- A dentist may advertise services and fees, but must not misrepresent credentials, training, or specialty status.
- Patient solicitation must not involve coercion, undue influence, or contact with vulnerable persons; solicitation of accident victims or recent emergencies may raise professional conduct issues.
- Fee splitting, paying for patient referrals, and arrangements that compromise clinical judgment can violate the Act or Board rules.
- Social media and testimonials are subject to the same rules; patient privacy must be protected.
Worked example
An ad states: Painless dentistry guaranteed, or your money back. The guarantee is misleading because pain and outcomes cannot be guaranteed for every patient. The refund offer does not cure the false implication. The dentist should revise the ad to describe services accurately and avoid promising a result.
Traps that cost marks
Do not assume advertising is prohibited; it is regulated. Do not think a disclaimer makes a misleading claim acceptable. Do not use patient photographs or testimonials without valid authorization. Do not let a marketing company make clinical claims on the dentist's behalf without review.
Exam focus
Identify the claim, ask whether it is factually supportable and not likely to deceive, then check whether patient privacy or inducement is involved.