Scenario 1

• A dentist while extracting a patient’s tooth dislocated the patient’s jaw. After the extraction, he did not examine the patient’s mouth and jaw to see that all was in order. The patient remained in his care for two days and was then discharged. She returned nine days later because she was still in pain. The dentist made no attempt to rectify the dislocation or to tell the patient that he had dislocated her jaw before she returned. On the ninth day he tried to rectify the dislocation, but managed to fracture the patient’s jaw. He also did not tell the patient that he had fractured her jaw. He continued not to tell the patient about the dislocated and fractured jaw for 16 days until the patient then left his care. The patient then consulted another dentist who discovered what had happened to her jaw and informed the patient.

–Did the first dentist behave like a reasonably competent dental practitioner should have acted? Why or why not?

–Did he act ethically and legally? Why or why not?