If a dentist performs a procedure without patient consent, this could be classified as?

When a dentist performs a procedure without obtaining informed consent from the patient, this action can legitimately be classified as battery. In legal terms, battery is defined as the intentional and unauthorized touching or application of force to another person. Even if the procedure may have been necessary for the patient’s health, failing to secure consent means that the dentist has encroached on the patient's autonomy and their right to make decisions regarding their own body.

Obtaining informed consent is a critical component of the dentist-patient relationship, as it ensures that patients are aware of the proposed treatment, its potential risks, and alternatives. Therefore, when consent is not obtained, and a procedure is conducted anyway, it crosses the line from acceptable practice into a violation of the patient’s rights, thereby constituting battery.

While terms like negligence and malpractice are also relevant in the context of dental procedures, they pertain more to the aspects of care and the standard of practice rather than the unauthorized nature of the action itself. Battery specifically addresses the lack of consent, which is the focal point in this scenario. Thus, recognizing this action as battery highlights the legal and ethical responsibilities that dentists hold toward their patients.