This is an archived blog from when I ran Conscious Public Relations Inc. from 2008-2018. Excuse the potential outdated-ness!
I rarely get to talk about ethical business, so when I heard this morning about a man living and working in Burnaby as a dentist without proper credentials or practices (story on CBC here), I thought this would be a good one to explore.
David Wu has 1500 patient files and has been practicing since the 90’s without proper registration. Questionable practices include working out of a home in Burnaby and lack of sterilization of instruments. Fraser Health Authority is now advising patients to get checked for HIV, Hep B, and Hep C.
Ethics and business
They say you can fake it till you make it. I believe you can look a part, but faking is a whole other ball game. If I am not qualified to do a certain task I am honest and say I can outsource it, or I can try it if the potential client trusts me enough and it’s a skill that could benefit me if I build it. It’s clear that Wu had no ethical sense when it came to posing as a dentist. The only way I can fathom him having operated for 20 years without him getting caught is if he charged next to nothing for clients, who might be happy to get a clean from someone without a degree or certification hung on his wall.
One third of Wu’s patients were under 18, so he had no problems treating children, and parents seemed to have no issue sending them to him. It was the brave soul who acted when his ethics came into question – he must have felt something was wrong, and did something about it. He could literally be a lifesaver for hundreds of other people.
Sometimes I speak with potential clients who tell me about their bad experiences with certain businesses. And sometimes we trust them and have no signs why we shouldn’t until they do something unethical. But I urge you – as I urge myself – to think twice and listen to that gut feeling if you do think something is off. It likely is. I have never had to call the Better Business Bureau, but it is good to know an organization is out there to look out for us. And it’s so important when your health, and the health of other people, are at stake.
Spread the gospel and support ethical business!
