A year ago, I was marvelling at my new son, Mr. J (Merry Christmas, Baby — Charles Brown). Well, a year has passed, and even though I’ve done my best to raise him in the same manner as his sister (The Divine Miss M), some interesting differences have come to light. Still, for their differences, I love them both equally — it’s not the same, but it is equal. As we were singing Happy Birthday (melody by Patty and Mildred Hill, circa 1893) to Mr. J, I thought back to a poster that I saw in the hospital during our labour-progressing walk of the hallways that Christmas Day. More on that later.
Dentistry is an extended family. Within the profession, there are siblings (general dentists) and more distant relatives (specialists). Professionally, there are more similarities than differences but we sometimes trend toward fragmentation as opposed to cohesion. Why? I’m sure our personalities have a lot to do with it. As a group, we are intelligent, curious, analytical, anal and insecure. That’s an odd mix of traits that leads to both positive and negative outcomes.
Earlier this year, one of our brethren gave a patient 4.25 mg of triazolam orally for a 5-hour procedure. That’s 17 tablets; and that’s an enormous amount. When I first heard of this, I joined others in sniffing at the foolishness of this uneducated dentist until I thought about how this could happen. I’m sure that there was an absence of malice, since it’s an ineffective way of killing someone. But my initial reaction brought me back to that hospital poster, which referred to The Golden Rule or the “ethic of reciprocity” (Respect — Otis Redding). Did you know that versions of The Golden Rule are reflected in no less than 21 religions and secular beliefs from Bah’ Faith to Zoroastrianism? Confucianism puts it well: “Do not do to others what you do not want them to do to you” (Analects 15:23).
Don’t make me look at a tissue sample through a microscope in order to diagnose some sort of pathology. The same is true for fixed orthodontics, implant placement and guided tissue regeneration. If placed in those situations, I may become the sniffed-at buffoon. When these skills are needed I’m glad that I can call on someone who performs them well. I’m lucky to have the wisdom to know some of what I don’t know. With respect to my overenthusiastic comrade-in-sedation, I should have first offered analysis, not judgement (Accentuate the Positive — Johnny Mercer).
We’re all different. It’s natural to play favourites; it’s dangerous to lose respect. At the start of this new decade, try to always treat your (extended) family with courtesy; after all, it’s The Golden Rule. Our professional cohorts aren’t a burden, they are you (He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother — The Hollies).
