Dental Tribune UK Edition, October 4-10, 2010, No.24 Vol.4

15Business Management TribuneOctober 4-10, 2010United Kingdom Edition Comes with free High End PC and Monitor offer valid until 31 August 2010 S ociety in general is becom- ing more litigious. A recent study from one of the UK’s dento-legal indemnity providers suggests that dentists in Britain are among some of the most at risk in the world when it comes to legal action from patients. It is believed that the figures in the UK are even higher than those of the US. It is possible that a practi- tioner may find themselves on the unpleasant receiving end of a complaint at some stage in their career, be it an irate phone call to a practice manager, or in the worst possible case, legal ac- tion. While an upset phone call or visit from a dissatisfied patient, whether aimed at yourself or a member of your team, is unpleas- ant enough, receiving legal ac- tion from a patient is every prac- titioner’s worse nightmare. Essential cover With this in mind, ensuring that you are protected with profes- sional indemnity insurance cov- er, which offers comprehensive cover to perform procedures us- ing products such as Botulism Toxin, dermal fillers and other re- juvenation treatments is a must. On some occasions, patients come into the clinic with unreal- istic expectations as to what can be achieved. While it is the pro- fessional’s responsibility to in- form the patients what they can realistically expect, it is some- times the case that the patient simply doesn’t understand, and then is disappointed with the fi- nal result. This may not be down to the professional’s actions It can simply be a case of the pa- tient either misunderstanding, or choosing not to listen to the professional’s honest advice about treatment, instead prefer- ring to see it as a ‘miracle-cure’. Warning of risk Of course, like any medical pro- cedure, the delivery of facial aesthetic treatments does carry a risk, and it is up to the practi- tioner to ensure that the patient is aware of this. It is common practice for patients to sign an agreement declaring that they do understand that they are un- dertaking a medical procedure, and are fully aware of the risks involved; however, when faced with a bad reaction, it is not un- common for the patient to forget all the advice and panic. Another common issue is pa- tients are not aware that in order to maintain the effects regular treatment must be carried out. Although, again, it is the respon- sibility of the professional to im- part this information, it is only possible to give patients estimates of their treatment’s duration. Eve- rybody is different, and the prod- ucts used can react differently. The primary concern should be patient protection, and as such, all practitioners should aim to ensure the highest level of care. However, in the event of a patient being dissatisfied, it is important to ensure that you and your team are protected, and that the indem- nity cover that you have is appro- priate for all of the treatments you offer in your practice. DT Tightening security Make sure you and your team are protected, says Bob Khanna About the author Dr Bob Khanna is President and founder of non-profit or- ganisation The International Academy for Advanced Fa- cial Aesthetics (IAAFA), He is the appointed clinical tutor in facial aesthetics at the Royal College of Surgeons and has trained thousands of dentists and doctors through the Dr Bob Khanna Training Insti- tute. For more information about Dr Bob Khanna, call 0118 9606 930 or visit www. drbk.co.uk.