10 strategies for responding to malpractice claims
An article published in The Journal of the American Dental Association offers 10 strategies for reducing risk and responding effectively to malpractice claims, including maintaining comprehensive malpractice insurance; keeping accurate, detailed and timely patient records; taking all patient concerns seriously, whether minor or substantial; and more.
The article authors analyzed more than 15,000 legal complaints containing multiple allegations of dental malpractice. Alleged treatment or surgery failures accounted for about 45% of cases, while alleged incorrect or delayed diagnoses, medication errors and communication breakdown followed at about 28%, 18% and 9% of cases, respectively.
“Although violations of the ADA Code are often cited by attorneys as evidence in dental malpractice cases, a lack of such a violation does not preclude legal action. Patients may still pursue malpractice claims if the legal elements necessary to support such a claim are present,” the authors said in the article. “Therefore, it is essential for dentists to not only comply with the ADA Code, but also to proactively prevent malpractice risks and respond effectively if a claim arises.”
Read more: JADA
The article presented here is intended to inform you about the broader media perspective on dentistry, regardless of its alignment with the ADA's stance. It is important to note that publication of an article does not imply the ADA's endorsement, agreement, or promotion of its content.