United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

Semler v. Oregon State Board of Dental Examiners, 294 U.S. 608 (1935)

Semler v. Oregon State Board of Dental Examiners

No. 538

Argued March 7, 1935

Decided April 1, 1935

294 U.S. 608

Syllabus

1. The fact that an exercise of the police power forbidding certain forms of advertising by dentists will interfere with existing contracts for display signs and press notices does not touch the validity of the regulation. P. 294 U. S. 610.

2. A regulation of dentists is not invalid as to them because it does not extend to other professional classes. P. 294 U. S. 610.

3. A regulation preventing dentists from advertising their professional superiority and their prices; from use of certain forms of advertising signs; from use of advertising solicitors or publicity agents; from advertising free dental work, free examinations, guaranteed work, and painless operations, held valid under the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, without regard to the truthfulness of the representations or the benefit of the services advertised. P. 294 U. S. 611.

4. It is within the authority of the State to estimate the baleful effects of such advertising, and to protect the community not only against deception, but against practices which, though they may be free from deception in particular instances, tend nevertheless to lower the standards of the profession and demoralize it. P. 294 U. S. 612.

148 Ore. 50; 34 P.2d 311, affirmed.

Appeal from the affirmance of a judgment dismissing the complaint in a suit to enjoin the enforcement of a statutory regulation of dentists.