Why would a dentist suggest that a patient sue another dentist?

Yeah, I just read a dentist on here suggesting that. I dont know about the other dental professionals on here, but that is just something I don't think any dentist should suggest to a patient, especially if they don't have all the facts. I know my dentist would never take a patients side of the story and tell him to sue his past dentist, especially without ever having reviewed the patients past records or doing an exam himself. That just seems to be wrong for a dentist to suggest against a fellow dentist, especially not knowing all the details.





On the specific question I am referring to, the best answers actually came from fellow dental assistants. I'm still in shock that a dentist would suggest the guy take the dentist to small claims court. I am curious to know why a dentist would suggest that.

Why would a dentist suggest that a patient sue another dentist?
I had a situation where a dentist recommended that I sue my old one. In my case, it was more a personal thing than anything. My original dentist, we'll call him Dr. B, took a new dentist into his practice (by new, I mean, he was fresh out of school), to help him get his practice started (we'll call the new dentist Dr. C). After some time had passed, Dr. B and Dr. C had a falling out, and Dr C left to open his own practice. I stayed with Dr B at the time. A few years later, Dr. B retired, so I went to Dr C. It was at that time, that Dr C recommended that I sue Dr B, because my teeth had moved a bit, after my braces were removed. He didn't care about the fact that I hadn't worn my retainer as long as I was instructed to do so (so really, it was my fault that my teeth moved). He was adamant that I sue Dr B for malpractice....





To make a long story short, I now have a new dentist.
Reply:Wrong! if the work by another dentist is doing more harm that helping Dentist CAN and probably should suggest action against the other professional. This is an ethical issue not a legal issue. Personally I never suggest my patients take action another professional Report It

Reply:I know that a lot of product liability lawsuits come around because the doctor treating the patient suggests a lawsuit of the company that made the product that created the injury.
Reply:Little Mer...sorry to say you have "little knowledge"





As a health practitioner for 50 years (30,000 patients on the books at one time) I occasionally had a patient who, for many reasons, I could not give the care they required. In those cases I suggested they see another practitioner.





Caring for a patient's needs requires a "synergism" between the doctor and patient, a sort of mutual trust and understanding. Sometimes personalities collide, they just don't co-exist.





I recall being pleased with a patient's results but the patient said that she thought I was wrong in my diagnosis, that my treatment was dangerous and faulty, that my hands were not clean enough and that my fees were exhorbitant.





So I will ask you, LITTLEMER, what would you have done in that case? I 'll tell you what I did. I gathered up her total file, handed it to her and said : " I am cancelling my bill to you. You owe me nothing. I don't feel I am the doctor for you. Here is your file, please find another doctor. Then I showed her OUT the door.

golf shoes