Why dentists should know their patients’ medical histories

Blog submitted by Dane Levy, Attorney of Dentalmal.com, a provider of legal services for those injured by dental malpractice in California

Providing healthcare for an individual can often be a team effort. A patient might see a primary care physician for general checkups, an ophthalmologist for eye exams, or a dentist for oral health issues. Yet, sometimes we lose sight of how interconnected our bodies can be. Medical issues in one area can affect problems in another. A failure to understand this has led to serious complications and even death in the worst cases. This is why dentists who overlook their patients’ medical issues can be liable for harmful negligence or dental malpractice.

In the past, there have been cases in which routine dental procedures have resulted in wrongful deaths. In some of these cases, dentists did not take patients’ previous heart problems into account before attempting procedures such as anesthesia. Even a routine cleaning can become life-threatening if a recent heart graft patient is not given antibiotics prior to the procedure. When people’s lives have been lost as a result of dental negligence, there should be no tolerance for careless behavior within the profession.

If you have lost a family member as a result of a dentist overlooking their medical history before a procedure, you may be entitled to compensation through a dental malpractice lawsuit. Attorney Dane Levy is an OC dental malpractice lawyer with years of experience, a track record of success, and an education from USC Dental School that can help you win your next dental malpractice case. Contact him today at the Levy Law Firm for more details.

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