It is a generally accepted precaution for dentists to warn patients of risks and exercise extra caution when patients are on anticoagulants (blood thinners) and must undergo dental procedures. A dentist fails to alert a patient (who the dentist knows is on anticoagulants) of the risks of a procedure the patient is about to undergo that is dangerous to someone on blood thinners. The patient experiences near-fatal bleeding due to the procedure. The plaintiff decides to sue for malpractice but the dentist says he was unaware of the need to warn patients on blood thinners of possible risks. Is the dentist going to be successful in his defense?
A) Yes, as long as the dentist can prove he did not know about the risks.
B) Yes, as long as the dentist did not make any specific mistakes during the dental procedure.
C) Yes, as long as the dentist can prove that the risks are overstated.
D) Yes, because malpractice cases require intentional harm for a victim to prevail.
E) No, because a professional cannot defend against a negligence suit by claiming ignorance of generally accepted principles in his or her field of expertise.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The dentist's claim of ignorance does not exempt him from responsibility, as professionals are expected to be aware of and adhere to the generally accepted standards and precautions in their field, including the management of patients on anticoagulants.

It Is a Generally Accepted Precaution for Dentists to Warn