The Journal of the American Dental Association
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

J Am Dent Assoc, Vol 139, No 9, 1164.
© 2008 American Dental Association
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Stevenson, R. B.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Stevenson, R. B.

LETTERS

INTRODUCTORY DISCOUNTS

Congratulations to Dr. Harvey S. Nisselson for his excellent June JADA Ethical Moment, "What Ethical Considerations Are Involved in Offering Introductory Discounts to Attract New Patients?" (JADA 2008;139[6]:769–771). His column balances the rights and autonomy of individual dentists with the reputation and integrity of the dental profession.

Ethical dentists who advertise must agree to pay a certain fee in advance of a particular "job," regardless of how much new business it attracts. Advertising companies may offer to prepare an ad campaign (design coupons, lay out photos and text) and/or "run" it via mail, radio, TV, etc., for no money down, but then demand a certain dollar amount for each new customer or percentage of sales generated. However, such "percentage contracts" for advertising by doctors were found illegal in Illinois, New York and Florida for physicians and chiropractors. Courts said percentage contracts amounted to "fee-splitting" and were illegal under state medical practice acts.1

These comments are meant to supplement Dr. Nisselson’s fine Ethical Moment column and remind JADA readers that fee-splitting is unethical and often camouflaged.


   REFERENCES
TOP
 REFERENCES
 
  1. Percentage contracts found illegal in New York and Illinois. Dynamic Chiropractic 1991; 9(14):1, 4. "www.chiroweb.com/archives/09/14/03.html". Accessed June 26, 2008.



Robert B. Stevenson, DDS, MS
Columbus, Ohio



This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Stevenson, R. B.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Stevenson, R. B.

HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS