Category: Legal Issues

Embezzlement is a crime of opportunity, and it happens because it can. It is impossible to know the exact prevalence of embezzlement in dental offices as much goes undetected and unreported, but studies indicate that at least one in three dentists will be embezzled throughout the life of the practice. Dentists are particularly susceptible to fraud ... [continue reading]

Dentists are well respected professionals and are trusted members of any community. As such, state law and the ADA Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct (Code) place obligations upon dentists to report abuse and neglect at certain times. It is important for dentists to be familiar with the legal and ethical requirements surrounding ... [continue reading]

Due to the growing volume of information that is being transferred and stored away each day, businesses are beginning to realize the importance of adopting a records retention policy. The purpose of adopting such a policy is to establish an official procedure for managing records. A well-crafted records retention policy specifies a detailed method ... [continue reading]

One of the most common questions I receive at the ODA is how to terminate the dentist-patient relationship in a proper way. I think this is the case because it is not something that a dentist does on a normal basis and they want to ensure they are doing it correctly. Terminating the dentist-patient relationship requires the dentist to exercise ... [continue reading]

Closing a dental practice often is much more complicated than turning off the lights and locking the door. As dentists contemplate the closure of an office, there are several key points to consider. Announcing the closure of a practice is a critical step in the process that could cause difficulty for the dentist if not handled appropriately. From ... [continue reading]

Since the introduction of federal privacy regulations under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), dental offices have focused their attention on the security and safeguarding of the health information they gather on patients in the course of treatment. Concerns about patient privacy have forced offices to exercise ... [continue reading]

Eric Richmond, the ODA's new director of legal and legislative services, with his wife, Katelyn, and their daughter, Layla. Hello "ODA Today" readers, my name is Eric Richmond and I am the new director of legal and legislative services for the ODA. I would like to take the time to introduce myself during this month’s legal brief. I promise ... [continue reading]

The ADA's Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct (Code) require dentists to respect the patient's rights to self-determination and confidentiality. Section 1 – Principle: Patient Autonomy of the Code “expresses the concept that professionals have a duty to treat the patient according to the patient’s desires, within the bounds ... [continue reading]

All states including Ohio have some type of unclaimed property law that declares money, property or other assets to be abandoned after a period of inactivity. Abandoned or unclaimed property, although not considered a tax, has become a significant source of revenue for many states. Additionally in this information age, states have become much more ... [continue reading]

Today, many patients investigate your office prior to an initial appointment using Internet ratings sites such as Yelp, Healthgrades, Bestdentists, Angie's List, and RateaDentist. A majority of consumers report to trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations, meaning a single negative review can harm your practice by turning away ... [continue reading]