Last week, Marion Jones was stripped of her three gold and two bronze medals that she won at the Sydney Olympic Games. After long denying she had ever used performance-enhancing drugs, Ms. Jones admitted in federal court that she started using steroids before the Sydney games. According to ESPN.com, she said she also used the designer steroid "the clear" from Sept. 2000 to July 2001.
The consequences of her illegal drug use affect not only her reputation, but also her relay teammates. She won medals as part of the women's relay race at the Sydney games, and the International Olympic Committee is in the process of removing the American team members' medals. The reason is that the relays were tainted, and the argument is that the Americans won because of Jones' drug advantage.
On the heels of that news, the Mitchell Report details the doping of some high profile major league baseball players. It talks about the use of steroids in baseball, and how many distinguished careers and ball clubs are suspect. If you read "Game of Shadows" by Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams, you begin to have a clearer understanding of illegal drug use in many professional sports.
Many of you may be saying, OK, sports, so what? How does this relate to hygiene?
Well, how many times in our professional lives have we witnessed our teammates, or perhaps even ourselves, performing illegal functions? The act of stretching the practice acts or violating them altogether can rock our profession.
I often hear stories from hygienists that "their employers" allow dental assistants to perform XYZ functions, or many dental hygienists who think they should be legally allowed to do ABC, even though their state practice act forbids it. In addition, since they "think" they should, they do! I have even been privy to dentists discussing how they allow unqualified personnel to take radiographs or perform cleanings on children, for example, or other illegal functions. They justify their actions by saying there is an employee shortage, and "what harm could ever come of it?" Many hygienists who work in such an environment tell me they don't say anything for fear of losing their jobs or further cementing the "hygiene prima donna" stereotype.
So if an investigation like the Mitchell Report unfolds in the dental profession, and it uncovers professionals who performed or knowingly allowed such illegal acts to take place ... do you think it would shame dentistry and dental hygiene?
I do. And it does.
Growing up, one of my mother's mantras was "two wrongs do not make a right." So if a teammate is stretching his or her functions beyond what is legal, should the entire team be held accountable? Think about the athletes on the American relay team. They arguably did nothing illegal. They worked and pushed themselves to the limits to make it to the Sydney games, where they won medals. Yet it looks like all their work will be for nothing because their teammate selfishly used performance-enhancing drugs. On the other hand, how about an all-star athlete who has won accolade after accolade and has been part of a winning team? Should the entire team be stripped of any championships?
For those athletes and professionals who never cheated, yet missed the fame and fortune because of the alleged cheaters, is it appropriate that they now be given their time to shine?
As the weeks and years progress, more will be uncovered about the illegal use of steroids in the sports world. Shakeouts will happen. Yet, as we go to work everyday and take part in such illegal functions, shouldn't we raise our hands and say enough is enough? Will we not care until a child dies or a patient is harmed at the hands of an unqualified professional performing a non-sanctioned function?
And when it is made public (the truth always comes out), will you be one of the hygienists who can say "I knew it was happening in the office all this time." Or will you be able to look yourself and the public in the eye and say, "Yes, I knew it was going on, and I reported it. Then I found another dental employer."
No one can know for sure what the right action is for another professional, so my wish for you is to conduct yourself based on the legal functions allowed and be in an environment that is above suspect. We never know when people will be watching or an investigation will take place.
Season's Greetings from RDH eVillage!
Thank you for your continued support of this growing on-line media. I hope to meet more of our readers in 2008!
All the best,
Kristine A. Hodsdon, RDH, BS
Director, RDH eVillage
