The thought of litigation can unsettle the most seasoned practitioner. 

A question often asked by members who have received notification, or a threat of legal proceedings is …. ‘When can patients sue?’

In this episode of RiskBites Senior dentolegal consultant Dr Annalene Weston and Dr Kiran Keshwara, from Dental protection discuss the how, when and why patients can successfully sue their dentist.

They go on to explain the process of legal claims and provide sequential advice on how to proceed if you do find yourself in receipt of letter from a lawyer.  Concluding their discussion with helpful tips and advice on how you can avoid a complaint or adverse outcome escalating to a legal claim in the first place.

Receiving a solicitors letter can be a terrifying experience for any practitioner, particularly when you read it, and are unsure what it means for you and your registration Join Senior Dentolegal Consultant Dr Annalene Weston and Dr Mike Rutherford from Dental Protection as they discuss the different types of letters that can be received, and what to do when they are.

In this episode of RiskBites, Senior dentolegal consultant Dr Annalene Weston and Dr Ralph Neller focus on how practitioners can best capture their discussions about risk and warnings in their clinical records. Annalene and Ralphs discussion highlights the challenges faced by practitioners when their records fail to evidence these discussions and provide helpful advice of how to document both general and particular risks specific to each procedure and patient

The internet and virtual communication have brought significant gains to our profession and although this might only seem positive, in reality, there is a downside. The fallout from these advances can result in unexpected and unintended consequences for practitioners and patients alike.
 
Join Senior Dentolegal Consultant Dr Annalene Weston and Dr Colm Harney from Dental Protection as they discuss the phenomenon of ‘online disinhibition effect’ and the role it plays in online communication. They identify the positive and the negative effects of this behaviour as well as areas where practitioners can easily find themselves amiss or in precarious situations. Helping you to recognise these behaviours in yourself and in your patients and respond accordingly.

At Dental Protection, we are seeing an increase in the number of calls from members who are dealing with upset, angry or aggressive patients.

In this episode of RiskBites, Senior Dentolegal consultant Dr Annalene Weston and Dentolegal consultant Dr Kiran Keshwara provide helpful advice on how to recognise an upset or angry patient and provide tips and strategies on how to manage these challenging situations, achieving this best outcome possible for you and your patient.

Some aspects of communication with patients are not just necessary, they are vital to ensuring the success of your business and or your individual reputation. 

In this episode of RiskBites, Dental Protections Senior dentolegal consultant Dr Annalene Weston and our inhouse lawyer Helen Harbourne, discuss the importance of establishing clear professional and personal boundaries with patients from the outset. Identifying the types of patients who might seek to challenge these boundaries, and how best to manage these patients and their care.

Saying no to patients or refusing treatment can be difficult for any well-meaning and caring practitioners. 

In this episode of RiskBites, Senior Dentolegal consultant Dr Annalene Weston and Dr Kiran Keshwara from Dental Protection focus on the critical subject of how we say no to patients, asking and answering that all-important question ‘Can we do it,  should we do and if we should, how are we going to do it'

Members often suggest content for our podcasts, usually in areas of interest or where they perceive there is a need for more information.  Body dysmorphic disorder is one such area, which most would agree is both poorly understood in the dental profession and the broader community. 

In this edition of RiskBites Senior Dentolegal consultant Dr Annalene Weston and Dr Mike Rutherford focus on the role of body dysmorphic disorder and how it impacts on our ability to achieve patient satisfaction.

Aesthetic dentistry is an exciting area of dentistry, one that has accelerating in growth and popularity among patients and practitioners alike. While it can be very rewarding, it doesn’t come without its own specific set of risks and complications. Risks that are often far reaching and more challenging than routine dentistry.

In this episode of RiskBites, Senior Dentolegal consultant Dr Annalene Weston and Dr Kiran Keshwara from Dental Protection discuss the potential pitfall of aesthetic dentistry and provide helpful tips and advice on how to avoid such issues arising in the first place.

“Why me?” Dr Mike Rutherford and Dr Annalene Weston discuss why you may have received an audit letter.

Further Resources
https://www.dentalprotection.org/australia/publications-resources/dentolegal-articles/articles/i-have-received-an-audit-letter-from-a-health-fund-or-medicare
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This episode is part of our podcast series, RiskBites, which provides short, bite-sized guidance around some of the key issues impacting the dental profession right now.