Not many dentists are aware of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare notification.
That a dental surgeon can issue a death certificate, if a patient were to die in the dental clinic, is a rule that exists on paper, but is unheard of in the dentist fraternity. The notification was issued by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) last year.
In June 2014, the code of ethics under the Dentist Ethical Act was revised. The regulations now say that dentists can issue death certificates in any case of an injury in the oral or maxillofacila region, a natural death or a death related to trauma occurring under the care of dentists.
Earlier, only MBBS and Ayurveda practitioners had the right to issue death certificates.
"Whenever a patient in the dental clinic becomes serious, we look at hospitalising the patient. If a death occurs in the clinic, a medical doctor is called upon to issue the death certificate. I am not aware that even dentists can issue death certificates," said Dr Dattu Ghule, a city-based root canal specialist.
There are 96,000 registered dentists or dental surgeons in India. "Through this notification, any dentist can issue the certificate, but only when death happens in the dental clinic or if the patient comes to the dental hospital for treatment. At times, a patient may come to the clinic for dental treatment and suddenly may have a heart attack. In such a situation, instead of sending the case to another medical doctor, the dentists can issue the certificate. Dentists cannot go to a deceased's home and issue the certificate like medical doctors do. Also we are not allowed to issue death certificates in medico-legal cases or deaths that may involve a dentist's negligence," said Dr Rahul Hegde, executive committee member, Indian Dental Association (IDA).
"Dentists learn subjects like anatomy, pathology, physiology, medicine and surgery, so they can issue death certificates. We have also started given training to doctors who are studying BDS about how to fill up the death certificate," he added.
Dr Ashok Dhoble, National Secretary, IDA, said, "Dentists need to stay abreast with the latest developments. They need to write to the State Dental Council to obtain complete information of change of ethics in the Act."
Dental Council of India (DCI) is in the process of incorporating this lesson in the curriculum of dental students. DCI regulates dental education and the profession of dentistry throughout India. The body has a right to issue directives, which are binding upon dental colleges.
There are 310 dental colleges across India, which train over 30,000 students every year. In Maharashtra there are 38 colleges, which train around 3,500 students every year. The new directives will apply to all dental colleges, including government-run dental colleges, deemed universities and private dental colleges.
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