Dental Malpractice : What You Should Know Before Refunding a Patient’s Money to Resolve a Dental Claim
Despite your best efforts, there are always patients who will for some reason demand a refund, or payment for repair or revision of dental work you initially performed. When this occurs, there are several things you must do. It is always prudent to have the patient’s request in written form. That way, you will have a clear picture of exactly what the patient is requesting. If the patient’s request was verbal, you should politely ask the patient to submit his or her request in a letter, and to include the reasons why a refund or payment is demanded. After receiving a written request, you should advise the patient that you will review and investigate the complaint, and give the patient a time frame within which he or she can expect a response (for example, two weeks). You should also contact the Dental Claims Unit of Medical Liability Mutual Insurance Company (MLMIC) to place MLMIC on notice that a claim has been made. Depending upon the nature of the claim and whether you wish