Be cautious accepting gifts this Christmas

Although it can be touching to receive a token of appreciation from a patient or a treat from a professional contact, it is important that dental professionals make sure that this does not impact their impartiality or affect their professional judgment.

Leo Briggs, dento-legal adviser at the DDU says:

“Dental professionals are always pleased to hear positive feedback and thanks from a happy patient and at Christmas time this may come in the form of a gift. However it is important to remember that accepting a gift from a patient could be misconstrued. While a box of biscuits or a bottle of wine is unlikely to be looked upon as anything more than a kind gesture, accepting something more substantial may be considered inappropriate and the dental professional’s motives could be called into question. At the same time, even small gifts could ring alarm bells in the context of other behaviour, for example, if the dental professional suspects that the patient has romantic feelings and in such circumstances, the gift may be best declined.