HALIFAX – The scandal at Dalhousie University’s dentistry school late last year involving a misogynistic Facebook group has sparked changes in how the Provincial Dental Board of Nova Scotia licenses new dentists.
Read more: Suspensions lifted for men linked to Dalhousie dentistry Facebook page
Amendments to the Dental Act were introduced Wednesday that will give the board the ability to impose conditions and restrictions on new licenses.
“Currently, the Act says you approve or disapprove,” said Minister of Health and Wellness Leo Glavine. “This will allow them greater flexibility and really keep it in line with what’s in place across the country.”
The amendments authorize the registrar to impose conditions, which could include practicing with supervision for a period of time, prohibiting certain procedures or taking additional ethics courses.
The board had already been looking into modernizing the Act for over a year but admits the scandal spurred additional changes.
“It was viewed at the time of the scandal — when it broke — that it would be good for the board to have the ability to have the option to issue licenses with conditions or restrictions,” said the board’s registrar, Dr. Martin Gillis.
“We have also revamped our application process. We’re asking questions of academic conduct, criminal record checks and character references. All this information will be evaluated for the applicant.”
Applicants who disagree with a licensing decision will be able to appeal to a newly-created Registration Appeal Committee.
The board’s chair, Dr. Tom Raddall, said the changes will align them with other regulatory boards in the province.
“I think it’s obvious the Dalhousie situation was an unprecedented situation but it certainly caused all regulatory authorities across the country — and probably not just dental — to reevaluate their application processes,” Raddall said.
Glavine said they plan to move through the amendments in a “timely manner” and expects it will apply to the 2015 graduating class of dental students.
With files from Julia Wong
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