title: Medical litigation in oral surgery practice: lessons learned from 20 lawsuits.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate all the lawsuits related to oral surgery practice over a period of three years, and to analyze the different causes of litigation. Inclusion criteria involved all the closed cases that proved malpractice against an oral and maxillofacial surgeon or involved a dentist who performed an oral and maxillofacial surgical procedure. The most common causes of litigation were oro-antral communication, neurological deficit, and bleeding. The study presented the lessons learned from 20 cases, and concluded that most of the lawsuits in oral surgery practice can be prevented either through preoperative measures or by dealing with the impact of the surgical error through good patient rapport and communication.
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Dental Sciences Department, College of Dentistry, University of Dammam, PO Box 1982, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia. hesham.marei@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Hesham F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Marei
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D035881:Compensation and Redress / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D008318:Malpractice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D019300:Medical Errors; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012308:Risk Management; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D013515:Surgery, Oral / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*