A dental dean's perspective on ethical remediation of practitioners.

A dental dean reviews the recently reported work of Dr. Muriel Bebeau providing an ethics remediation program for dental professionals in Minnesota who have been referred by the Board of Dentistry for disciplinary reasons. Dean Turner notes that the program is grounded in evidence, theory, practical cases, and critical thinking--all important elements on effective professional pedagogy. Issues associated with extending this approach to other states and into predoctoral education are explored. It is concluded that the documented effectiveness of the program belie claims that ethics cannot be taught.