Dental Malpractice : Informed consent (Part2 )

What are the problems that we might have in informed consent ?  

3 things :

1- language :
  It is very important that you have the same language of your patient, that’s why when you are practicing in other country lets say Australia they will force you to have occupational English test in which they examine your capability and your ability to understand and communicate with your patient and your staff and this is very important coz you cannot communicate with someone who speak different language from u and you don’t take any offer to resolve this problem.

             If you face such problem you need to have a translator, we will face such problem when you are treating patient from other nationality,
             They are speaking other language; we need a translator and the rules
             Say even the translator you bring you should choose someone who can communicate smoothly with your patient, if the translator from the relative of the patient its better.

2- culture :
It's very important when you are treating a patient from other cultures, coz sometimes they are considering some sort of dental problems as a sort of esthetic sign for them not as a problem as known to our culture. For example in African countries they are considering spacing as a sign of duty and isn’t a sign of malocclusion that need to be treated.
You have to understand the culture of the community that the patient comes from.

   
3- Education :
  You should understand the level of education of your patient. All of us know that dental plaque is the initiating factor of the periodontal disease for us the dr can said that the dental plaque is the initiating factor but for most of our patient they will not understand that and u should reach to his education level so that u can interpret your work and what u want him to understand.

  To assist the patient in making an informed decision about having the proposed treatment, the dentist should explain:
• The nature of the proposed treatment.
• The benefits of the proposed treatment, & the consequences of not having the proposed treatment
• The most common & severe risks associated with the proposed treatment
• Reasonable alternatives to the proposed treatment, including the risks and benefits of each

  Items appearing on consent form for a minor (children):
       
1-Name & date of birth of pediatric patient

2-Name, relationship to patient, and legal basis for adult to consent on behalf of minor

3-Treatment, alternatives, & risks

4-Potential adverse sequelae specific to the procedure

5-An area for the patient or parent/guardian to indicate all questions have been asked

6-Signature lines for the dentist, parent or legal guardian & a witness.

       Informed Consent should be :
           1-Procedure specific, with multiple forms likely to be used
           2-Updated or changed accordingly as changes in treatment plans occur.

When Written Consent Is Required ?

          1-If new drugs are to be used
          2-If experimentation or clinical testing is involved
          3-If a patient’s identifiable photograph is used
          4-If minor children are treated in a public program
          5-If the treatment takes more than 1 year to complete