Litigation in Dentistry: Do you see what I see?
This post is based on a talk by James Foster at the Young Dentist Conference 2015.
I've posted quite a bit recently about litigation - there's been lots of talks by Dental Protection that I've been to!
There are lots of challenges for dentists in today's environment, not just dento-legal challenges of course. Some of these challenges include:
- Complaints (see a previous post about why people complain here)
- Negligence claims
- Regulatory investigations (GDC, CQC)
- Disciplinary procedures
- Criminal investigations e.g. fraud
Top litigation claims against dentists
- Crown/Bridgework
- Endodontics
- Nerve damage
- Oral surgery
- Restorative work
- Periodontal claims
With the increase in quick-fix orthodontics, implant surgery and facial aesthetics (botox/dermal fillers), these will surely enter the list soon!
In a dentists career, there are around 250,000 interactions with patients (on average). During your career, you will have around 1-2 GDC cases, and 3-4 negligence claims.
To reduce your risk of a complaint you must learn how to communicate effectively with patients. See my previous post about this here. Also be aware of what you post online on social media - closed groups and forums are not as safe as you may think!
How to respond to a complaint effectively
- Acknowledge the complaint
- Express meaningful regret
- Tell the patient that you are sorry - this is not an admission of fault
- Discuss possible solutions
- Do not abandon the patient
James showed us some rather terrifying pictures of negligent dentists or claims that patients had made which included hypochlorite accidents and surgical emphysemas! It certainly shocked a lot of us.
The important message wasn't to scare us off practising dentistry, but to prepare us for when things go wrong and how to explain risks and adverse situations to patients.
Do you have any thoughts about the increase in litigation in dentistry in the past few years? Please leave your comments in the section below!
11 comments
Nice Information. For top-notch Full Mouth Rehabilitation (FMR) treatment in Nagpur, head to Chandak Dental Clinic. They offer expert care from specialists dedicated to FMR. Renowned as the premier dental implant clinic in Nagpur, Chandak Dental Clinic ensures impeccable treatment for all your dental needs. Chandak Dental provide best warts removal treatment in Nagpur.
ReplyDeleteGreat site ........... For more details Visit all on 4 dental implants in Nagpur.
ReplyDeleteGreat Site. Chandak Dental offers best dental bleaching in Nagpur.
ReplyDeleteGreat Site. Chandak Dental Clinic is best dental implant in Nagpur .
ReplyDeleteGreat Site. Chandak Dental Clinic offers best FMR treatment in Nagpur .
ReplyDeleteGreat Site. Chandak Dental Clinic is the best best dental clinic in Nagpur . Replacing a missing tooth restores function, aesthetics, and bite stability, ensuring harmony in your dentition.
ReplyDeleteGreat Site. Chandak Dental Clinic offers the best replacement of missing teeth in Nagpur . Replacing a missing tooth restores function, aesthetics, and bite stability, ensuring harmony in your dentition.
ReplyDeleteGreat Site. Get the best FMR treatment in Nagpur. Also get Lasers, combined with fluoride treatment.
ReplyDeleteGreat Site, Get the best full mouth rehabilitation treatment in Nagpur.For the best dental sealants in Nagpur, look for clinics offering laser treatments combined with fluoride
ReplyDeleteGreat Site, Get the best laser dentistry in Nagpur.For the best dental sealants in Nagpur, look for clinics offering laser treatments combined with fluoride
ReplyDeleteGreat Site, Visit Chandak Dental Clinic for replacement of dental implants in Nagpur. Full mouth rehabilitation is challenging, involving the replacement of lost tooth structure and restoration of vertical dimensions, demanding precise planning and execution.
ReplyDelete