Knowledge Of Legal Requirements Research Articles

Forensically Valuable Odonatological Records Documentation in an Era of Electronics: How Aware Are the Dental Fraternity?

Forensic odontology plays a pivotal role in the identification of victims in mass disasters with the help of "Preserved dental records" available to general dental practitioners (GDPs). Comparison of dental data obtained from the deceased person with dental data obtained by the dentist from the person's file is a primary method of identification through dental evidence. We explored the practice of maintaining dental records among GDPs, as well as their knowledge of legal regulations and the application of dental records in forensic odontology. Two hundred fifty dentists participated in an online survey. Questions covered general information on dentists, maintenance of dental records, and knowledge of legal requirements and forensic odontology. Overall, 85.2% of dentists obtain and archive written informed consent, while 73.2% retain records in the form of dental cast. Generally, non-carious dental lesions and developmental dental anomalies were not recorded. About 90.8% of dentists use Fédération Dentaire Internationale (FDI) notation. The survey revealed different practices in the maintenance of dental records, including significant flaws and a lack of awareness of their forensic importance. This obvious need for additional education on the proper maintenance of dental records could be met by including forensic odontology in compulsory undergraduate courses and postgraduate dental education. Establishing national and international standards in dental charting would comply with contemporary trends in health care and the requirements of forensic expertise.

Importance and Maintenance of Dental Records - Are Dentists Aware? A Survey Among Private Dental Practitioners

Introduction: Forensic expertise, including dental identification and expertise in civil litigation cases related to dental malpractice and injuries mostly count on dental records. Comparison of dental data obtained from the deceased person with dental data obtained by the dentist from the person’s file is a primary method of identification through dental evidence. Material and Methodology: In all, 180 dentists participated in an online survey. Questions covered general information on dentists, maintenance of dental records, and knowledge of legal requirements and forensic odontology. Results: 66.6% of dentists said that they update patient's data on every visit. 86.6% of dentists were aware of the use of Dental records in Forensic Odontology. 89.9% of dentists were not aware of how they should present the data when asked by the legal authority whereas only 10.1% of Dentists were aware of how they are supposed to provide the data. The percentage of dentists who knew how long are they legally mandated to keep patient records showed a significant difference (p<0.05) between Bachelors of Dental Surgery (BDS) and Masters of Dental Surgery (MDS) practitioners. Conclusion: Dentists being aware of forensic odontology, still lack the information about the legal aspects of it. Forensic odontology should be included in the curriculum as a separate subject to improve knowledge at the grassroots level. The focus should also be improved towards raising the awareness among private practitioners regarding the practical aspect of forensic odontology.

Importance and Maintenance of Dental Records- Are Dentists aware? A survey among Private Dental Practitioners

Introduction:Forensic expertise, including dental ide ntification and expertise in civillitigation cases related to dental malpractice and injuries mostly count on dental records.Comparison of dental data obtained from the deceased person with dental data obtained bythe dentist from the person’s life is a primary method of identification through dentalevidence.Materialand Methodology: In all, 180 dentists participated in an online survey. Questionscovered general information on dentists, maintenance of dental records, and knowledge oflegal requirements and forensic odontology.Results:66.6% of dentists said that they update patients’ data on every visit. 86.6% of dentistswere aware of the use of Dental records in Forensic Odontology. 89.9% of dentists were notaware of how they should present the data when asked by the legal authority whereas only10.1% of Dentists were aware of how they are supposed to provide the data. The percentageof dentists who knew how long they are legally mandated to keep patient records showed asignificant difference (p<0.0 5) between BDS (Bachelors of Dental Surgery) and MDS(Masters of Dental Surgery) practitioners.Conclusion:Dentists being aware of forensic odontology, still lack the information about thelegal aspects of it. Forensic odontology should be included in the curriculum as a separatesubject to improve knowledge at the grassroots level. The focus should also be improvedtowards raising the awareness among private practitioners regarding the practical aspect offorensic odontology.

Maintenance of Dental Records and Forensic Odontology Awareness: A Survey of Croatian Dentists with Implications for Dental Education.

Forensic odontology is the application of dentistry within the criminal justice system. Forensic expertise, including dental identification, mostly relies on dental records. We explored the practice of maintaining dental records among Croatian dentists, as well as their knowledge of legal regulations and the application of dental records in forensic odontology. In all, 145 dentists participated in an online survey. Questions covered general information on dentists, maintenance of dental records, and knowledge of legal requirements and forensic odontology. Overall, 70% of dentists obtain and archive written informed consents, while 87% record dental status. Generally, non-carious dental lesions and developmental dental anomalies were not recorded. About 72% of dentists record filling material and surfaces. Only 32% of dentists know the legal requirements for keeping records, whereas 21% have no knowledge of forensic odontology and its purpose. The survey revealed different practices in the maintenance of dental records, including significant flaws and lack of awareness of its forensic importance. This obvious need for additional education on proper maintenance of dental records could be met by including forensic odontology in compulsory undergraduate courses and postgraduate dental education. Establishing national and international standards in dental charting would comply with contemporary trends in health care and the requirements of forensic expertise.

Student self-assessment of knowledge and application of legal concepts in a community pharmacy simulation

BackgroundThe Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) lists the topic of pharmacists’ responsibilities and limits under the law as an area essential to the development of pharmacists. The use of active learning techniques such as role-play and simulation in pharmacy education is encouraged; however, these have rarely been used to reinforce students’ knowledge and application of legal concepts. ObjectivesTo assess students’ confidence in knowledge and application of pharmacy laws; their ability to properly supervise support staff and to evaluate the influence of inattentive behavior upon pharmacy practice responsibilities. MethodsStudents role-played as pharmacists, technicians, and interns in a series of ten-minute community pharmacy simulations. Pharmacists oversaw typical operations and were presented with situations that challenged their knowledge of pharmacy law while background activities competed for their attention. Students completed pre- and post-assessments on their confidence in knowledge of legal requirements and their ability to recognize violations. Students in the pharmacist role completed an additional questionnaire concerning simulation events. All students completed a reflective writing assignment. Faculty observers evaluated student performance. ResultsPositive and negative changes from baseline occurred in students’ confidence of knowledge and recognizing violations. Students’ awareness of the impact of inattentive behavior upon pharmacy practice increased. Students’ ratings of their attention to detail and ability to multi-task decreased. ConclusionThe assessment methods in this study provided students insight into their strengths and weaknesses regarding knowledge and application of legal concepts in pharmacy. This information gives students an opportunity to address deficient knowledge areas before entering pharmacy practice.