It’s Not Me; It’s You: Terminating a Relationship With a Difficult Dental Patient
Most relationships, whether personal or professional, start with a certain level of mutual trust and respect, compatibility, and shared goals and priorities. But those characteristics don’t always last, and a once-promising partnership can devolve into disputes, distrust, or outright hostility. The dentist-patient relationship is not immune to such deterioration. There may come a day when the differences between a dentist and their patient make continued treatment undesirable or impractical.
A patient, of course, is free to call it quits with their dentist at any time, or the patient and dentist can mutually agree to part ways. But when a dentist wants to stop treating a problematic or disruptive patient and terminate the relationship, things can be a bit stickier. It is crucial that a dentist handles the break-up carefully and in accordance with the law and ethical standards so as to avoid claims of patient abandonment that could threaten their professional license or expose them to liability.
Dentists Have a Right To Unilaterally Dismiss a Patient For Reasonable Cause
As a preliminary matter, dentists may choose to responsibly end their relationship with a patient for any reasonable, legally permissible cause. As the American Dental Association (ADA) guidelines put it:
The dentist has the right to dismiss a patient in situations where it is impossible to resolve differences or if the dentist cannot abide the patient’s behavior within the practice, as long as the dismissal is not for a legally impermissible discriminatory reason.
Accordingly, a dentist may not end a patient relationship because of the patient’s race, religion, gender, color, age, national origin, disability, or other characteristics protected by federal and state anti-discrimination laws. Notably, political opinions are not a protected characteristic under the law.
Common reasons a dentist may justifiably terminate a patient include:
- Hostility or abusive behavior toward the dentist, staff, or other patients
- Harassment or sexual abuse of dentist, staff, or other patients
- Repeatedly missing appointments
- Refusal to undergo recommended testing or treatment
- Lack of trust or confidence in the dentist’s abilities or recommendations
- Consistent failure to follow office policies
- Showing up to appointments under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Refusing to adhere to infection-control precautions and policies, such as masking
- Nonpayment
Patient Dismissal vs. Patient Abandonment
A dentist who chooses to dismiss a patient can’t simply show them the door, send them a break-up text, or refuse to answer their calls. Dentists must end the relationship such that they avoid any claim that they have abandoned their patient.
According to the ADA’s Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct Section 2.F.:
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.
Patient abandonment is a serious ethical violation. For example, the Illinois Dental Practice Act lists “abandonment of a patient” as one of the many reasons the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation may revoke, suspend, refuse to issue or renew, reprimand, or take other disciplinary or non-disciplinary action against a dentist. A dentist also exposes themself to a malpractice claim if injuries result from their termination of the patient at the wrong time during the course of treatment or without proper notice.
Best Practices For Terminating a Patient Relationship
As noted, adequate notice, providing the patient an opportunity to find alternative care, and facilitating continuity of ongoing care are the keys to responsibly ending the dentist-patient relationship and avoiding a claim of abandonment. We suggest that dentists take the following steps to minimize the likelihood of any disputes or claims arising from the termination of the relationship:
- provide written notice to the patient, preferably by certified mail;
- provide the patient with the reasons for terminating the relationship;
- offer to continue treatment and access to services for a reasonable period (such as 30 days) to allow the patient to secure another dentist’s services;
- state that you will provide emergency services for a designated period;
- help the patient locate another dentist; and
- offer to transfer the patient’s records to a new dentist and/or advise the patient of their right to obtain a copy of their records for a fee.
Additionally, a dentist experiencing issues with a patient should contemporaneously document all communications, incidents, statements, or behavior suggesting a breakdown in the relationship.
Of course, while a dentist can control how they handle the end of a patient relationship, they can’t control how the patient will react to being “dumped.” Even when the dentist acts professionally and cordially, as they should, there is no guarantee that the patient will do the same. If a patient responds with hostility or anger, tread carefully and do not respond in kind.
Contact Us With Any Questions or Concerns
If you have any questions or concerns about ending a patient relationship, please give us a call. At Grogan, Hesse & Uditsky, P.C., we focus a substantial part of our practice on providing exceptional legal services for dentists and dental practices, as well as orthodontists, periodontists, endodontists, pediatric dentists, and oral surgeons. We bring unique insights and deep commitment to protecting the interests of dental professionals and their practices and welcome the opportunity to work with you.
Please call us at (630) 833-5533 or contact us online to arrange for your free initial consultation.
Jordan Uditsky, an accomplished businessman and seasoned attorney, combines his experience as a legal counselor and successful entrepreneur to advise dentists and other business owners in the Chicago area. Jordan grew up in a dental family, with his father, grandfather, and sister each owning their own dental practices, and this blend of legal, business, and personal experience provides Jordan with unique insight into his clients’ needs, concerns, and goals.
Speak to an Attorney
