Referral patterns and medical malpractice in patients with oral mucosal lesions before attending in oral medicine clinic of Kerman dental faculty

ABSTRACT

Unfortunately, many physicians and even dentists are unaware of existence of oral medicine practitioners. This fact leads to high incidence of medical malpractice in patients with oral mucosal lesions before visiting by the specialist of oral medicine. These malpractices might lead to not only imposing high expenses on the patients but also may waste the time and money which cause irreparable side effects. To our knowledge this is the first detailed Iranian study which its aim is to evaluate medical malpractice involving patients with oral mucosa lesions. In this descriptive cross-sectional study, clinical charts of patients attending in the oral medicine department complaining of oral mucosa disorders [during 1998-2005] were reviewed. Finally after collection of information from all charts through data forms, the diagrams were drawn with the use of SPSS. V.I 7 version. Information of 753 charts were reviewed. 45% of patients first seen by physicians and 36/2% by dentists. Majority of patients were examined by otolaryngologists, dermatologists, maxillofacial surgeons and periodontists. The average period of time between the initiation of disease and professional examination of patients was 24/05 +/- 4/14 months. Malpractice seen in 37/6% of patients, most commonly in the forms of avoiding of neglecting necessary referal and biopsy mostly performed for Lichen planus and Pemphigus vulgaris. Medical malpractice had the significant relationship with types and numbers of the lesions [P<0/05]. In this study high percentage of medical malpractice and long period of time between initiation of symptoms and referring to the specialist in oral medicine shows that inevitable efforts is needed to change referral patterns and treatment procedures in oral dis. for medical malpractice prevention