2017, issue 7

Explaining complications and risks

ByJohn Makin

Published20 June 2017

If something goes wrong with a patient's care, would you give a reason or an excuse? John Makin explains how discussing risks can make all the difference.

This patient…concluded that the information provided was simply an excuse to explain something that had gone wrong.

John Makin

Head of the DDU

John Makin BDS PgDL PgCDE FHEA is head of the DDU. He qualified in Manchester in 1983 and has worked as a general dental practitioner in Lancashire and Devon before joining the DDU as a dento-legal adviser. He was involved with foundation training for many years as both a trainer and VT adviser/training programme director with the Manchester and Exeter DFT schemes.