Resumen

SYKES, LM; MPUNGOSE, S  y  OWEN, CP. Do you Guard your Profession with Jealousy, or Is it Easier to simply be a "Dignified Observer"?. S. Afr. dent. j. [online]. 2026, vol.81, n.2, pp.110-113. ISSN 0375-1562.  https://doi.org/10.17159/sadj.v81i02.24808.

BACKGROUND: A noticeable shift is occurring in how medical and dental practitioners advertise their services, moving beyond traditional methods to public platforms and high-profile sponsorships. There is an increased use of intentional and widespread advertising to the general public. Some use media such as flyers and pamphlets displayed in their own or in allied health care providers' waiting rooms, while others target even wider audiences using the more public platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. For years dentists have been observing these trends, yet nobody has voiced any concern as to the legality and ethics of this behaviour. AIM: This prompted the current commentary where we ask the question "Are we as dental practitioners guarding our profession with jealousy, or are we merely standing by, observing, and choosing to remain silent?" SETTING: This paper analyses the South African legal and ethical framework governing professional advertising, identifying significant ambiguities that create "grey areas" exploited through canvassing and touting. METHODS: The literature search and examination of the current postgraduate teaching facilities and opportunities in South Africa was conducted to explore the extent of the crisis in post-qualification education and if this is a factor contributing to this unethical advertising RESULTS: A severe shortage of funded specialisation posts and a lack of accredited, practice-relevant micro-credentials have led to a proliferation of unregulated, private courses. These "rogue" courses often operate on a "pay-to-pass" model, providing certificates that practitioners then use to justify misleading claims of expertise. CONCLUSIONS AND CONTRIBUTION: By examining international models and proposing a multi-stakeholder framework for reform, this paper argues that safeguarding the profession requires simultaneous action on two fronts, enforcing clear advertising rules and establishing a robust, quality-assured system for postgraduate lifelong learning

        · texto en Inglés     · Inglés ( pdf )