EC Dental Science

Dentistry, like other healthcare professions, is increasingly influenced by medico-legal considerations due to heightened patient awareness, expanding treatment modalities, and evolving legal frameworks. Dental practitioners are expected not only to provide competent clinical care but also to adhere to legal and ethical obligations. Failure to comply with these responsibilities can result in allegations of negligence, professional misconduct, or legal liability. Medico-legal issues in dentistry encompass informed consent, duty of care, negligence, documentation, consumer protection laws, professional misconduct, and medico-legal responsibilities during emergencies. This review aims to comprehensively analyze the medico-legal aspects relevant to dental practice, emphasizing preventive strategies to minimize litigation and promote ethical, lawful practice. Awareness and proper implementation of medico- legal principles are essential to protect both patients’ rights and dentists’ professional integrity. Dentistry is governed not only by clinical and ethical standards but also by legal frameworks that protect both patients and practitioners. With increasing patient awareness, litigation pressure, and inclusion of dental services under consumer protection laws, dental professionals must understand medico-legal responsibilities to ensure ethical practice and legal safety [1-3].

Keywords: Medico-Legal Case (MLC); Dentistry; Ethical Practice and Legal Safety

1. Acharya R. “Professional ethics and dental jurisprudence”. New Delhi: Jaypee Brothers (2014).
2. Prabhu SR. “Ethics in dentistry”. 2^nd New Delhi: Jaypee Brothers (2014).
3. Parikh CK. “Parikh’s textbook of medical jurisprudence and toxicology”. 7^th New Delhi: CBS Publishers (2019).
4. Dentists Act, 1948 (India).
5. Dental Council of India. Dentists (Code of Ethics) Regulations. New Delhi: DCI.
6. Nageshwar Rao B. “Textbook of forensic odontology”. New Delhi: Paras Medical Publisher (2011).
7. Sridhar R. “Ethical and legal issues in dentistry”. Indian Journal of Dental Research 21 (2010): 1-6.
8. Gupta R. “Legal liabilities in dental practice”. Journal of Forensic Odonto-Stomatology 30 (2012): 1-6.
9. Consumer Protection Act, 2019 (India).
10. Indian Medical Association v. V.P. Shantha, 6 SCC 651 (1995).
11. Martin F. D’Souza v. Mohd. Ishfaq, 3 SCC 1 (2009).
12. Kishan Rao v. Nikhil Super Speciality Hospital, 5 SCC 513 (2010).
13. Reddy KSN. Essentials of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology. 34^th New Delhi: Jaypee (2017).
14. Indian Penal Code, 1860.
15. Reddy KSN. Essentials of Forensic Medicine. Jaypee (2017).
16. Jacob Mathew v. State of Punjab, 6 SCC 1 (2005).
17. Dunning JM. Principles of Dental Public Health.
18. Bolam v Friern Hospital Management Committee. 1 WLR 582 (1957).
19. Medical Council of India. Code of Ethics (2002).