CDA Essentials 2015 • Volume 2 • Issue 2

20 / 48

20 | Volume 2 Issue 2
News and E vents
Many dentists heeded Dr. O’Keefe’s call to contact him with
their views on the subject. Here is a sample of some the
replies received, condensed to show a cross-section
of the responses from Canadian dentists.
Almost coincidentally with stumbling upon the “culture of respect” section of the university website, I unearthed from the
nether regions of my computer hard drive, the text of a keynote address I delivered at the first White Coat Ceremony that
was held at the McGill University Faculty of Dentistry over a decade ago. Reading through the text of the speech I delivered
to the new 3rd year students entering the clinics to treat their first patients, I found that same message about a culture of
respect (albeit stated in other but similar terms) being a cornerstone of a healthy profession.
What can we learn from Dalhousie’s experience? What can
we as a profession do collectively to enhance our culture
of respect for the public, patients, team members and
colleagues? I would love to hear from you (on a confidential
basis) about how you feel about the Dalhousie Facebook
group behaviour and what lessons you believe we as a
profession can learn that will make us more caring,
respectful and wiser. a
• As dentists, we must respect everyone: our patients,
our staff, and especially our colleagues. I am
concerned that we are losing our way by failing
to act appropriately. It shows us in a bad light and does not help
the public trust us.”
• As a profession we need to take a more active role in the
recruitment and development of our up and coming [clinicians].”
• The old boy’s club remains as strong as ever despite the number of
women in dentistry. ”
• There are a number of ethical issues that CDA is well positioned to
address – in conjunction with, but not left solely to, the Dental Regulatory Authorities. In addition, ethics curricula in our
Faculties of Dentistry clearly need to be strengthened.”
• Despite the advances that women have made in business and the professions in the past 40 years, we can see with the
Facebook posts at Dalhousie that you do not need to scrape too far below the surface to find that sexism is alive and well
today.”
• We are all guilty of it. We all get and receive off-colour, sexist jokes, pictures from friends and colleagues. [..] We should all
remember that those in glass houses should not throw the first rock.”
• As a dentist, husband, son and father, I have experienced embarrassment, outrage, frustration, sadness, disgust and some
others not yet identified. I would be horrified if one of my sons were to even think of women in those terms, never mind
publish his thoughts.”
• The women that were insulted need to grow a thicker skin because the world is not very fair out there. There is gender
inequality in our profession (not as bad as it was). Restorative justice is an excellent way for these women to learn to
communicate about very difficult issues. You cannot sweep things away or hope others will deal with it for you.”
• My hope is that these students will have an opportunity to atone for their mistakes. I suspect that every student’s specific
situation is different which makes effective justice such a difficult task.”
• I feel a severe reprimand is in order but I would have trouble expelling these students over something as ignorant as they
have done. I would hope they would realize the extreme damage they have done and could in some way correct the errors
they have committed to the students they have harmed.”
Wewould liketocontinuetheconversationonthis issue,sopleasesendyourcommentsto OrcontactDr.O’Keefeconfidentiallyat or1-800-267-6354, ext5000.
Excerpt from
Dr. O’Keefe’s 2002White Coat Ceremony address
at McGill University.
I hope you take the opportunity over the next 2 years
in the clinic to develop the habits of the reflective
practitioner, evaluating all your clinical decisions
andhowyoudeal withpatients, colleagues and staff.
Your everyday assumption of the responsibilities as
a health professional will be what distinguishes you
in the eyes of the public and your peers. So what are
these responsibilities?
¤ You must ensure that you are competent in what
you do clinically.
¤ Youmust always act in the interests of the patient,
mindful of the patient’s circumstances.
¤ You really have a responsibility to be a leader in
your community inmatters related to health, and
particularly oral health.
I am very proud to be a dentist, and I am sure that I
will be very proud to call you my colleagues. Please
wear the responsibilities and the privileges that
are symbolized by the white coat every day in your
hearts and minds.”