What is the family ethics filter that helps dentists decide which treatment options to actually offer?
A simple rule for screening treatment options against the standard the doctor would apply to people they care about most: if the option is something the doctor would not do on their most loved family member or closest friend, do not offer it to a patient. The filter is direct and useful. Every treatment option the practice presents should pass the test that the doctor would genuinely recommend it to their spouse, parent, child, or closest friend if those people had the same dental situation. Options that fail the test do not belong in the case presentation, even when patients might select them for budgetary reasons. The principle serves the patient and the practice simultaneously. Patients pick up on the ethical commitment when they hear it expressed. Trust deepens. The practice avoids the long-term consequences of having delivered work the doctor knew was substandard. Other dentists are willing to offer treatment options that fail this filter, often because they prioritize keeping the patient over the integrity of the recommendation. The doctor who applies the family filter consistently builds a different kind of practice. The ethics show up in measurable patient response.
If the answers you are finding here resonate with you, my team and I work with a small group of clients each year. The next step is a complimentary Discovery Consultation and Practice Review with Dr. McAnally.
