Bill mandating dental malpractice insurance clears Pennsylvania Senate
Legislation that
would require dentists to carry malpractice insurance was approved Wednesday by
the state Senate.
Senate Bill 388
would require dentists to have liability insurance of at least $1 million per
claim and $3 million annually, according to Sen. Pat Vance, R-Cumberland/York,
who sponsored the bill.
A dentist would lose
his or her license for failure to insure.
Source. HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM). June 22, 2011.
Dental malpractice
injuries are often serious and cause long term suffering. Errors in dental procedures can cause painful
and permanent injuries including nerve damage in the jaw, tongue and lips. Injuries
may also occur when dental assistants fail to monitor the patient and/or
administer the proper dosage of anesthesia.
Sedation errors frequently result in extreme consequences such as
fatality and brain damage. Some
other common injuries that occur in the dental office include:
• Medication
errors
• Infections
in the mouth, tongue and brain
• Injury
to bone in the jaw, teeth and/or gums
• Improper
diagnosis
• Failure
to detect oral problems
• Use of
faulty materials or products
• Injury
to bone or surrounding tissue
Because dental
injures can be permanent, or even lethal, it is important that dental healthcare
providers have proper insurance. Serious
injuries can be financially devastating to the victim and his/her family since
they usually result in large amounts of damages in the form of medical bills,
out-of-pocket expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, disfigurement, future
medical bills, and a diminished quality of life.
This bill is a step
in the right direction towards ensuring that dentists are financially responsible
and can compensate victims in the event that malpractice causes a serious
injury.
