What is considered patient abandonment in a dental practice?

Patient abandonment in a dental practice occurs when a dentist discontinues the treatment of a patient without providing reasonable notice or an appropriate transfer of care. This is critical because, in a dental context, it is the responsibility of the dentist to ensure that the patient has continuity of care, which includes notifying the patient about the cessation of treatment and facilitating a smooth transition to another provider if necessary.

The ethical and legal responsibilities of a dentist include maintaining an ongoing relationship with the patient and ensuring an orderly transfer of care to avoid jeopardizing the patient's health. This principle protects patients from potential harm that could arise from abrupt discontinuation of treatment without adequate communication. Therefore, any abrupt termination of the dentist-patient relationship, particularly when it leaves the patient without care, constitutes abandonment.

In contrast, while failure to provide follow-up care, not responding to patient inquiries, and not keeping a schedule of patient appointments may negatively impact the patient experience and could lead to complaints, they do not fit the strict legal definition of patient abandonment, which centers on the cessation of treatment without adequate notice or care transfer guarantees.