title: Avoiding malpractice for nondental conditions. The example of human immunodeficiency virus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dentists are legally liable for failing to recognize medical conditions that they identify while providing dental care and for failing to refer patients for follow-up care and testing. This article suggests ways to avoid liability using human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, infection as an example. TYPES OF LITERATURE REVIEWED: The authors conducted a review of the legal literature to determine circumstances that would cause dentists to have legal liability for failing to recognize a medical problem. The authors also conducted a review of the dental literature to identify the most common signs of HIV infection that dentists might see in practice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The legal literature indicates that dentists can be held liable for failing to recognize medical problems, including HIV and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The dental literature shows that there are multiple signs and symptoms that indicate the potential for HIV infection to be the underlying cause of many oral diseases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dentists should be familiar with the most common oral manifestations of medical conditions that are likely to be identified in the dental office, including those associated with HIV infection. They must recognize medical conditions and arrange for appropriate referral to avoid liability.
authors: School of Public Health, Dental Branch, University of Texas Houston Health Science Center, P.O. Box 20186, Houston, Texas 77225-0186, USA.
authors: R M
authors: RM
authors: Grimes
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Richards
authors: C M
authors: CM
authors: Flaitz
mesh_terms: D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D002180:Candidiasis, Oral / Q000175:diagnosis; D003815:Dentists / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D017733:Leukoplakia, Hairy / Q000175:diagnosis; D016365:Liability, Legal; D008318:Malpractice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000175:diagnosis; D013281:Stomatitis, Aphthous / Q000175:diagnosis; D013283:Stomatitis, Herpetic / Q000175:diagnosis