The War on 'Unethical' Dentistry
Tacoma dentists face prosecution for the crime of advertising and cutting prices in a state-led industry crackdown.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
In the superior court yesterday afternoon, information was filed by Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Harvey against R. C. Phelps, E. U. Thompson, and F. O. Mellion, three Tacoma dentists, charging them with practicing without a license. The first two are employed at the Huston dental parlors and the latter at the Electro dental parlors. The matter was brought to the attention of the county attorney by S. R. Stearns of Spokane, counsel for the state dental board. In each case the parties arrested are employees of dental parlors that advertise extensively, and it is alleged that this is only the beginning of a war which the dental board proposes to wage against all dentists who violate the 'code of ethics.' This 'code of ethics' is in the main an agreement not to advertise or cut prices on dental work. Dr. F. J. Bethel, proprietor of the Electro dental parlors, expressed the opinion that the action was brought about largely through the jealousy of dentists who have built up a practice on what they term strictly ethical lines.
“Dr. F. J. Bethel, proprietor of the Electro dental parlors, expressed the opinion that the action was brought about largely through the jealousy of dentists.”
This story highlights the historic friction between professional guilds and consumer-focused businesses. Just as early 20th-century dentists used state boards to squash 'unethical' price-cutters, modern professional services continue to navigate the blurry line between standards of care and anti-competitive protectionism.
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