Karnataka Dentists Performing Aesthetic Procedures Face License Risks: Legal Battle Ongoing

In a recent development, the Karnataka State Dental Council (KSDC) has issued a notice clarifying that dentists performing facial aesthetic treatments and hair transplant procedures outside the scope of their professional training will be considered engaging in "Unethical Practice." Such practices could lead to the removal of their names from the Dental Register.

The notice, dated January 2, 2025, specifically highlights that only Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons are exempt from this ruling. This decision comes amid ongoing legal proceedings in the Bombay High Court regarding the eligibility of dentists to perform aesthetic procedures.

The KSDC emphasized the importance of adhering to the Revised Dentists (Code of Ethics) Regulation 2014, outlining a range of ethical concerns such as misleading advertising on social media, associating with corporate entities, and engaging in unauthorized dental courses or workshops. The Council has made it clear that failure to follow these ethical standards would result in dentists being deemed unfit to practice.

Meanwhile, the legal battle continues over the Dental Council of India's 2022 guidelines, which allowed Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons to perform aesthetic and hair transplant procedures. Dermatologists have challenged these guidelines, arguing against the involvement of dental professionals in such treatments. The court case is ongoing, with the Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons of India (AOMSI) defending their role in these procedures, stating that their training qualifies them for such work.

The case remains under adjudication, with the final outcome still to be determined.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Dr. Sruthi Suresh/MSM)