33
Volume1 Issue2
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S
upporting
Y
our
P
ractice
Canada’s Anti-SpamLegislation:
WHATDOES IT MEAN FOR
DENTALPRACTICES?
MinisterofIndustryJamesMooreannounced lastDecemberthatBillC-28,Canada’sAnti-SpamLegislation
(CASL),willcome into forceonJuly1,2014.WithCASL, the federalgovernmentwillprohibit thesendingof
unsolicitedcommercialelectronicmessages(CEMs), in thehopeofputtinganend to theuseofmisleadingand
deceptivespam.Inanticipationof theenforcementofBillC-28,CDAtriedtosimplify theCASLdocumentto
understandwhatwillberequiredofdentalpracticeswhencommunicatingwithpatientselectronically.
What types of electronic communicationswill fallunderCASL?
Bill C-28
will apply toelectroniccommunicationsof commercial nature, including
client recuperationmessages, promotional offers, andpotentiallynewsletters.
Itwill encompass all CEMs sent by text, sound, voiceor imagemessages toan
electronicaddress,which includes anemail account, instantmessagingaccount,
telephoneaccount or similar account (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn).
Dental offices shouldobtainconsent before sendingCEMs topatientsor other
parties inorder toavoid thepotential penalties applicableunder CASLwhereno
exceptions apply.
What types of electronic communicationswillnot fallunderCASL?
Exclusionswill include, amongothers:
• Estimates for the supplyof aproduct or service, given that thepatient
requested to receive themelectronically
• Messages that facilitate, complete, or confirmacommercial transaction that has
beenagreed toby thepatient
• Warranty-relatedcommunications
• Recall or safety informationabout aproduct or service thepatient hasusedor
purchased
Fromadental office standpoint, itmeans that appointment reminders, post-
treatment follow-up instructions andorder notifications shouldbeexcluded from
consent requirementsunder CASL. However, it is important tonote that such
electronicmessageswill still need to include theprescribed informationdiscussed
in this article.
How candental offices obtainpatient consent?
Bill C-28
isbuilt aroundaconsumer opt-inapproachwheredental practiceswill
need toobtainconsent,whether expressor implied, from recipients to receive
CEMsbefore suchmessages are sent to them. It is important toverifyandconfirm
this consent
before July1, 2014
.
