A letter to the Officers and Trustees of the Indiana Dental Association

Peer Review Committee members enjoy protection from legal prosecution within the parameters of the State Dental Practice Act. The case I reviewed in my IDA Overview Post dated 1.1.11 is not a legal offense but rather an Ethical Violation under the American Dental Association Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct; Section 4.C and 4.C.1. It is the responsibility of the Officers and Trustees to enforce the State Association Bylaws. I have sent the following to those leaders:

January 31^st, 2011

To: The Officers and Trustees of the Indiana Dental Association

I have established a Weblog to share my concerns regarding the administration of the Indiana Dental Association Bylaws. The web address follows and the details of my concerns are within the Post dated 1.1.11. I also urge you to read the Post titled Who is reviewing Peer Review?

www.peerreviewforum.blogspot.com

As Officers and Trustees is it your responsibility:

SECTION 100. COUNCIL ON JUDICIAL AFFAIRS.

The duties of the Council on Judicial Affairs shall be but not limited to:   

(A) Promoting the ADA Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct to members of the Association and the public.  

(B) Serve as a resource to component dental societies and the membership at large regarding compliance with and enforcement of the ADA Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct.

(C) Consider appeals from members of the Association under sentence of censure, probation, suspension or expulsion by a component society and hold hearings and render decisions thereon. The method of procedure shall be that prescribed by the Council on Judicial Affairs of the ADA.

As a lifelong member of the Indiana Dental Association I urge you to convene and take the necessary action of granting an Ethics Hearing following a filed Complaint, as required by the Association’s Bylaws.

Thank you for this consideration,

Philip J. Batton DDS

I urge members of the Indiana Dental Association to contact the Officers and Trustees and encourage them to fulfill their responsibility.