Dental Malpractice?

I am just writing this to see people's reactions and to find out if it's worth taking action to do something about it.





My mom went to a dentist, Dr.S, for a check up because she has gum desease. I was in the room when the doctor was doing the check up. The doctor wasn't really paying attention to what she was doing and it seemed that she spent more time chatting and joking with her assistant than doing what she was supposed to do. After the appointment my mom was feeling okay. But a few hours after the appointment one side of her mouth started to hurt her. During the night she couldn't get any sleep because of the pain. And the next day that side of her mouth, her gums, were swollen and hurt her even worse. She called her usual dentist, Dr. G, to make an emergency appointment. The doctor confirmed that she indeed had an infection and would need to take antibiotics.





We realized that we may have a case so we went back to the office office of Dr.S in order to get her to confirm that my mom had an infection. She wasnt there so my mom got an appointment with the boss of Dr.S. The boss of Dr.S confirmed the infection. He also had to do a minor surgery to make the infection site better which required a local anesthesia.





Two days after the appointment to Dr.S the infection site turned a dark color and my mom is still expierencing pain.





So far we have paid for three medications and three appointments.


We were wondering if we have enough for a dental malpractice case. Is it worth it for us to do anything about this?





Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Dental Malpractice?
With you being in the room during the exam, then you are a witness to the chatting and joking. If I were you I would makes notes as to the conversation and joking going on. You may have a case.
Reply:Honestly, your mom probably doesn't have the proof to prove the dentist was chatting it up-but still may get negligence. It doesn't hurt to call a laywer and get a consultation, but your mom would have to be willing to go through A LOT to go ahead and pursue this. If she is willing to go through with it, AND she finds a lawyer that feels they will take her on, I say it can't hurt. But, in the future, your mom should not allow such conduct. I know it is hard to say anything, but when it comes to her health and well being, she should place herself at top.