Because we’re being asked this question more frequently than ever before, here is the Colorado Dental Association answer on dismissing a patient. It is the same as the answer we’ve always given, except that we suggest sending a certified letter and also allowing for seeing the patient on an emergency basis for 30 days.
According to the American Dental Association’s Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct, “once a dentist has undertaken a course of treatment, the dentist should not discontinue that treatment without giving the patient adequate notice and the opportunity to obtain the services of another dentist. Care should be taken that the patient’s oral health is not jeopardized in the process.”
To avoid the abandonment of a patient, the Dentists Professional Liability Trust recommends that all emergency needs of the patient be addressed prior to dismissing a patient. If the patient is at a non-emergency point in their treatment and it is clear that a situation has developed that prevents the dentist from practicing quality dentistry to the level of the patient’s needs, the dentist can terminate the patient from their practice by sending a letter advising the patient of the current situation. The patient should also be provided with names of various clinics or clinicians who might be in a position to assume their care. It is also strongly recommended that the dentist remains available for the following two weeks to handle any emergencies until the transfer of care can be arranged.
