Warnings - written is always best
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Date
2013
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
SADA
Abstract
An inferior dental block injection was administered to a
17-year-old who required the emergency extraction of his
lower right molar tooth. The patient was advised not to bite
his lip as he may not feel it due the numbing effects of the
local anaesthetic. When the dentist returned to the surgery
he noticed that the patient's lip was swollen, but that
the lip mucosa was intact. He suggested that the patient
must have bitten his lip and warned him against doing this
again. Following the extraction of the tooth, the dental assistant
repeated the same warning before the patient was
dismissed. Two hours later the dentist received a call from
the Casualty Department of the local hospital to report that
the patient had presented to them with a swollen lip and
that part of the lower lip tissue was missing. The injury was
subsequently repaired by a plastic surgeon and after six
months a small scar remained.
Description
Keywords
Communication, Warnings, Consent, Legal
Citation
Naidoo, S. (2013). Warnings - written is always best. SADJ, 68(7): 332-333