IADR Abstract Archives
AN AUDIT OF MALPRACTICE AMONGST ORAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN SOUTH AFRICA: 2007- 2016
Objectives: Malpractice complaints against oral health professionals (OHP) are on the increase globally. The major cause of malpractice is failure to adhere to norms and standards of the profession. Reported malpractice encompass breach of confidentiality, failure to obtain valid informed consent, issuing fraudulent medical certificates, claiming for services not rendered and violating regulations governing the dental profession. According to a South African study, clinical complaints (59%) and fraud (29%) were the most common forms of malpractice complaints against dentists, while for dental therapists it was fraud (46%).
Aim: The study sought to analyse the nature and outcome of malpractice by OHPs as reported at the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA).
Methods: A cross sectional descriptive survey of malpractice records on the Medical & Dental Board and the Dental Therapy & Oral Hygiene Board was undertaken from 2007 – 2016.
Results: A total of 118 cases and 198 counts of dental malpractices were finalised by the HPCSA. A predominance of dentists (74.6%), than specialists (17%) and dental therapists (11%) were charged with malpractice. The mean age at Independent practice was 25.8 (SD=4.9), 26.9 (SD=3.9) and 38.14 (SD=5.8) for dental therapists, dentists and specialists respectively. More males (77.1%) had complaints laid against them. Most of the complaints were laid against OHP practicing in the Gauteng province (53.4%), with less (42.2%) than 10 years working experience. Approximately a third (37%) of the OHP had more than one count of malpractice.
Fraud, clinical misconduct and unprofessionalism account for 66.7%, 23.2% and 10.1% of all counts of malpractice respectively. Data reveal a significant difference in forms of malpractice (p=0.000) and counts (p=0.002) between dentists and dental therapists.
Conclusions: Malpractice seems to be on the increase and largely cases are rising and is due to fraud.
Aim: The study sought to analyse the nature and outcome of malpractice by OHPs as reported at the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA).
Methods: A cross sectional descriptive survey of malpractice records on the Medical & Dental Board and the Dental Therapy & Oral Hygiene Board was undertaken from 2007 – 2016.
Results: A total of 118 cases and 198 counts of dental malpractices were finalised by the HPCSA. A predominance of dentists (74.6%), than specialists (17%) and dental therapists (11%) were charged with malpractice. The mean age at Independent practice was 25.8 (SD=4.9), 26.9 (SD=3.9) and 38.14 (SD=5.8) for dental therapists, dentists and specialists respectively. More males (77.1%) had complaints laid against them. Most of the complaints were laid against OHP practicing in the Gauteng province (53.4%), with less (42.2%) than 10 years working experience. Approximately a third (37%) of the OHP had more than one count of malpractice.
Fraud, clinical misconduct and unprofessionalism account for 66.7%, 23.2% and 10.1% of all counts of malpractice respectively. Data reveal a significant difference in forms of malpractice (p=0.000) and counts (p=0.002) between dentists and dental therapists.
Conclusions: Malpractice seems to be on the increase and largely cases are rising and is due to fraud.