Date recorded: Thursday 21 May 2020
Suitable for: Australian dental practitioners 

At Dental Protection, we read many letters from dental practitioners responding to a complaint from a patient. They are always difficult letters to write and sometimes the intent gets lost in the emotion of the moment – outrage, disappointment, fear and even embarrassment. Some letters are helpful but unfortunately others can actually make a situation worse. On occasions an apology, or an acknowledgement that treatment did not progress as expected is necessary. We learn how to swim, we learn how to drive – why not learn how to acknowledge an adverse outcome?

Join Dental Protection Senior Dentolegal Consultant, Dr Mike Rutherford for this one-hour recorded webinar examining the art of an apology. Dr Rutherford explores research that demonstrates how an apology or an acknowledgement can decrease risk and discusses how patients, lawyers and the regulator may interpret your words.

Dr Rutherford is joined by Dr Annalene Weston, Dentolegal Consultant, Dental Protection.

By watching this webinar you will:

• Understand how a patient, lawyer or the regulator may interpret your words

• Learn how to lessen the chance of a complaint to the regulator or a legal claim

Speaker

Dr Mike Rutherford, Senior Dentolegal Consultant, Dental Protection

Dr Mike Rutherford is Senior Dentolegal Consultant for Dental Protection Australia. Dr Rutherford has more than 40 years’ dental experience in private practice, hospital clinics, the defence forces and supervising undergraduate dental students. He spent 19 years as a member of the ADAQ Patient Liaison Panel. Dr Rutherford had been a partner in a Brisbane suburban dental practice for three generations of patients.

Dr Annalene Weston, Dentolegal Consultant, Dental Protection

Dr Annalene Weston is a Dentolegal Consultant for Dental Protection Australia. She is the first point of contact for members, providing colleague to colleague support and advice. Dr Weston completed her undergraduate dental degree and vocational training in the UK, and worked in the NHS and private dentistry for four years before immigrating to Australia in 2003. She has worked across three Australian states, in both private and public dentistry, and gained her Masters in Health Law through the University of Sydney, Faculty of Law in 2009.

Dr Weston was awarded a Fellowship to the American College of Dentistry in 2016 and a Fellowship to the Pierre Fauchard Academy in 2019 in recognition of her strong work in ethics and collegiate support. Dr Weston continues to practice on a part time basis.

How to register for this webinar on Prism