July 10, 2025, Inside Medical Liability
MPL Case: Inadequate Informed Consent and Documentation Creates Challenges in Dentistry
Dental malpractice claims are often not merely the result of individual oversights but reflect broader systemic issues, such as lapses in infection control, documentation, and patient assessment protocols. Establishing and maintaining strong practice processes for patient communication, informed consent, and documentation can help improve patient safety and protect the practice from liability.
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Kathryn A. Bowen
Kathryn Bowen is the executive vice president of Madison Healthcare Insurance Services in Huntington Beach, California. She has been working in medical malpractice insurance for over 20 years.
Jun 05, 2025
Cloud-Based CME Platform Improves Usability and Convenience
The Doctors Company is proud to offer our members an improved platform for our industry-leading accredited education for physicians, dentists, and advanced practice clinicians.
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The Doctor’s Advocate
Patient Safety Tips for Obstetrics and Gynecology
These strategies can help you keep your patients safe and reduce potential liability. The tips highlighted here include tracking test results, documenting prenatal records, discussing birth plans, and managing noncompliant patients.
Video Nov 15, 2023
Shoulder Dystocia: Physician-Patient Disclosure
The purpose of this video is to assist physicians in enhancing their communication skills when disclosing a shoulder dystocia injury to patients and family members. This type of injury to the infant may unfortunately occur, despite the best of care. However, effective physician-patient communication is an integral part of clinical practice and has shown to positively influence outcomes by increasing patient understanding and trust.
Inappropriate Dental Care and Delegation During Use of Conscious Sedation Lead to Patient Death
Our discussion of a tragic case includes strategies to help dental professionals avoid patient injury when performing a treatment or procedure involving sedation or anesthesia.
Professional Education
Medication Management: Strategies for Advanced Practice Clinicians
Medication management is by far the area providers can make the most impact within the professional practice arena. Data from closed claims shows that medication management is a risky area, most importantly the monitoring of medications. Monitoring and management begin when the patient receives the medication until the patient is no longer on the medication. An effective medication management process is essential for safe patient care. Having current patient medication information will assist with subsequent prescribing and a plan of care.
Management of Treatment Complications in Dentistry
When treatment complications occur, it is often how the situation is handled that determines the outcome for both the patient and the healthcare provider. These strategies can help dental professionals enhance safety and mitigate risk.
Infection Control Resources
Get risk management/patient safety resources and free accredited education on top issues surrounding infection control.
Patient Safety in Dentistry Series
The articles in this three-part series provide strategies to help dental professionals enhance communication and documentation skills and manage adverse events in a practice setting.