Although a contribution to the cost of clinical negligence cases accounts for a significant part of the membership fee, most of our annual caseload is actually concerned with assisting dental members with other legal and ethical issues.

As a dental member of MPS, you will have access to dentolegal support and assistance provided by Dental Protection.

Benefits include:

• Telephone Advice 24/7
• Specialist legal advice and representation (for situations not supported by the CIS)
• Handling complaints
• Media and press relations
• Gardai investigations arising from the provision of clinical care.

Dentists working in Ireland hardly need to be told that it is a litigious environment in which to practise. Being a member of a defence organisation brings the peace of mind that comes with knowing that you have experienced, professional colleagues to help and advise you on any dento-legal problem, and from knowing that the world's largest team of specialists in this field will be on your side, to protect and support you when it matters most.

This support is given by fellow dentists who really understand your problems and who can empathise with your feelings. They in turn are supported by a team of Irish lawyers who specialise in this field and with whom Dental Protection works closely on cases, on a day-to-day basis. It is a winning combination that no other organisation can rival.

We are committed to helping you avoid problems and provide the best care for your patients. Using our wealth of knowledge and experience we have developed a range of risk management resources to help reduce your exposure to complaints and claims.

It is important that you should be aware that the Clinical Indemnity Scheme (CIS) was not created to protect you or your professional interests. The CIS was established to ensure that patients, who are harmed as a result of substandard care in public hospitals/clinics, are compensated. Complaints to the Irish Dental Council, general patient complaints and disciplinary hearings are all daunting prospects for any dentist but unfortunately these situations have become increasingly common.

It is also important to know that if you are working in a general practice setting, or as a private practitioner, the CIS won’t cover you for the financial consequences of a claim for clinical negligence.

No. Dental members are not restricted in the value of the indemnity that is accessible to members working in Ireland. Those members in a limited income concessionary category are treated no less favourably than other members. They are all equally entitled to seek assistance in the event of a complaint or claim being made against them and there is no pre-defined financial limit on a member’s right to request indemnity for any complaints or claims arising from professional practice.

Whilst a signature of a dental nurse indicates her presence on that particular day, it does not have to be an actual signature; it could just be a note of his or her name.

A signature itself does not necessarily indicate the original source of the information to which it relates because the records entered by the nurse will have been dictated by the dentist and he or she alone will be responsible for verifying the accuracy of what is written. 

To sum up then, there is no reason why the name of the nurse should not be recorded on the clinical records, but there is no necessity for there to be a definitive signature. 

Record keeping can be a team effort and what is required is an appropriately detailed record. The Dental Council’s guidance, Standards for the Dental Team, refers to adequate and accurate records of all matters relating to their treatment of patients.