Whatever happened to the Hippocratic Oath?!?

Every day I take time to catch up with the news via cnn.com and I was appalled today to learn about a 12 year old boy name Deamonte Driver, who had dental disease which lead to a brain infection and ultimately killed him! He was under the medical assistant/medicad program and his family couldn't find a dentist who would treat him. It bothers me a lot, because he looks just like so many of my former students from Baltimore city or here in NYC. It breaks my heart and I thank god my grandparents especially Baba always made sure my teeth were cleaned 2xs a year all my life.

This article has hit close to home because my Mom who has state assistance is losing her teeth and I asked her why she didn't see a dentist? Her response was no dentist in Lancaster will accept her medical assistance and she would have to travel to Philly to get help. Or go to one of those dental schools where people who don't know what they're doing, practice their skills on you. Thats crazy! Lancaster is full of dentists. I am horrified by how poorly our country takes care of the poor and disadvantaged population.

So then I decided to google whether or not dentist take the Hippocratic oath? And what I found so far is something more like an informal pledge during a graduation;

(excerpt taken from studentdoctor.net)

We take the Dentist's Pledge, or at least that's what we did at UCLA. We had to recite it at our graduation, but I haven't talked to people from other schools so I'm not sure if this is universal.

It goes something like this:

I, as a member of the dental profession, will keep this pledge and these stipulations. I understand and accept that my primary responsibility is to my patients, and I shall dedicate myself to render, to the best of my ability, the highest standard of oral health care and to maintain a relationship of respect and confidence. Therefore, let all come to me safe in the knowledge that their total health and well-being are my first considerations. I shall accept the responsibility that, as a professional, my competence rests on continuing the attainment of knowledge and skill in the arts and sciences of dentistry. I acknowledge my obligation to support and sustain the honor and integrity of the profession, and to conduct myself in all endeavors such that I shall merit the respect of patients, colleagues and my community. I further commit myself to the betterment of my community for the benefit of all of society. I shall faithfully observe the Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct set forth by the profession. All this I pledge with pride in my commitment to the profession and the public which it serves.

Hmm, and where in this pledge does it say, I will become a money grubbing a-hole that cares more about my checking account balance and my golf tee-offs, than helping a 12 year old boy avoid death?

Lately I've been so disgusted with our country's affairs and how people have very little common decency to be kind to one another. In my experience, most dentist I've met except my current one, have the God-complex, not much different from a regular doctors. I don't know where or how along the lines of becoming a doctor, this develops but I sure wish there was a shot we could give them to ease the swelling of their egos. And I hate how this country your health is depended on your wealth. I know some people think I am talking like a communist but I do believe in socialism when it comes to our health care system. I believe all employers should be required to provide health insurance to all employees whether or not they work full time. I think anyone who works more than 20 hrs a week (part time) should have health benefits.

The past 2-3 years I have had no health insurance because I've worked several pt jobs and I've been blessed that I haven't been seriously injured or stricken ill for months at a time. I have had to rely on walk-in clinics where I am treated like a 2nd class citizen and spend hours and hours waiting to be seen. Or I buy otc meds and hope it does the job. I even have had to use patient assistant programs sponsored by the drug making companies so I could get the meds I needed, even tho sometimes it would take weeks and months for the process to be completed.

Anyways back to the boy who died, can you imagine being his parents and when someone asked why he died, the answer they have is, no one care enough to make sure this young man with his whole future ahead of him, would had a chance in life. Tsk tsk, the state of Maryland, you should be ashamed!