How Can a Dentist be Charged With Medical Malpractice?

Like other medical professionals, dentists are trusted individuals. Patients expect them to uphold the proper standard of care during treatment. While this is usually the case, there are instances in which dentists are negligent and harm their patients. When this happens, patients can pursue legal action in order to hold them liable. This can be extremely damaging to a dentist’s career, which is why they should retain the services of an experienced medical defense attorney for assistance with your case. 

What is Medical Malpractice?

Medical malpractice is when a medical professional does not provide their patient with the duty of care that they are required to and is negligent when treating them. It is possible for dentists to act negligently just like any other professional. This can result in serious injuries or cause a patient’s condition to worsen. 

However, dentists are also humans who make mistakes, and not all injuries are due to negligence. Sometimes, a patient may not respond positively even though the dentist made an informed decision. It is because of this that it is important to retain the services of a medical defense attorney to protect your rights.

What are Common Injuries Due to Malpractice?

There are many ways that a patient can become harmed due to malpractice, including the following:

  • Infections stemming from various unsanitary or incorrect treatment practices. This can lead to brain abscesses, cardiac complications, and blood poisoning. 
  • Patients injured as a result of a dentist’s failure to diagnose or treat certain diseases of the mouth
  • Sinus and nerve damage from certain endodontic procedures
  • Wrongful death due to improperly administered anesthesia 

What do I Need to Know About Lawsuits?

Dentists who are accused of malpractice will be investigated by the Office of Professional Discipline (OPD). An OPD investigation is a very serious matter that should be treated as such, as it has the potential to end a career. The investigation will call the professional’s entire career into question. During the lawsuit, patients are required to prove they deviated from the accepted standard of care and caused their suffering as a result. A proper medical defense attorney can help to discover defenses that help protect a career.  

Contact our Firm

When a medical professional is accused of misconduct, it is essential that they retain strong legal representation. If you require a medical law attorney for your legal matters, call Paul E. Walker, an experienced New York City OPMC & OPD Lawyer. Please contact the Walker Medical Law firm to set up a free initial consultation. It may save your practice.