title: The role of a professional dental organization in the resolution of malpractice claims the professional dentist college in the region of Murcia (Spain).
abstract: The aim of this paper is to study the role of a professional dental organization in the resolution of malpractice claims in Murcia (southeast of Spain). We analysed all the claims presented to the College of Dentists during the last sixteen years (n = 84). Professional behaviour was demonstrated as adequate in 29 cases and as malpractice in 55 (32 cases were considered technically correct but with information failures and in 23 cases technical errors were observed). The written informed consent was absent in 40 cases, although information was supplied verbally in 30 cases of the 40. The distribution of the dental interventions performed in the claim cases was: surgery, 20 cases (23.80%), prosthetic, 36 cases (42.85%) and endodontic, 28 cases (33.33%). Only in 22 cases (26.19%) was a final agreement reached between the parties. The Dental College could improve these results, acting as a real arbitral court and minimizing the problems for professionals and the claimers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Deontology, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lopez-Nicolas
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Falcón
authors.forename: Maria Dolores
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Perez-Carceles
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Osuna
authors.forename: Aurelio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Luna
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003815:Dentists / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008318:Malpractice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012308:Risk Management; D012953:Societies, Dental; D013030:Spain