Medico-legal reality (published study, 56 Indian dental negligence consumer cases 2018-2022):
- Top allegations: negligence (21 cases), pain-management issues (14), informed consent ki kami (12).
- Sabse zyada sued specialties: oral surgery aur endodontics (RCT) — wahi jo har general clinic roz karta hai.
- Settlements: average ₹2.63 lakh (range ₹50,000-5 lakh).
- Study ka conclusion: 'documentation and adherence to clinical standards emerge as critical protective factors against litigation' — complete records, procedure-specific consent, clinical standards, indemnity insurance.
Legal framework: dentist Consumer Protection Act me covered hain (Supreme Court precedent). Courts consent ko PROCEDURE-SPECIFIC maante hain — ek blanket form se saare treatment cover NAHI hote. NABH ke consent standards exactly yahi discipline banwate hain. NABH record-retention rules (medico-legal cases me 5 saal) bhi built-in hain — dispute me ready-made defence file. ORALZY me ye protection pehle se built hai: har procedure ka alag consent (A4 + patient QR), case sheets, Rx records, treatment photos, X-rays — sab timestamped aur patient se linked. Indemnity insurance zaroor alag se le lena — wo app nahi de sakti.