Root canal forces 2nd treatment, dentist pays 2L
A Delhi woman initially paid Rs 1.10 lakh for root canal treatment, crowns, and veneers, but later required additional corrective dental work after experiencing pain and complications. The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission-VII in Delhi ordered the dentist to pay Rs 2 lakh for the deficiency in service. However, the commission did not deem the dentist medically negligent.
The September 8, 2026 order centered on the dentist's failure to provide proper informed consent regarding the treatment, its risks, and alternatives. The woman visited a dentist in Vasant Vihar, Delhi, on August 9, 2023, after feeling oral pain. The dentist recommended four root canals, crowns for four teeth, and veneers for two others, for which she paid Rs 1.10 lakh.
The patient alleged that the dentist did not adequately explain the risks, benefits, and alternatives, nor the extent of tooth structure that needed removal. After the initial treatment, the patient's crowns did not match properly, causing pain, difficulty chewing, and other discomfort. She sought treatment at another clinic, where she underwent re-root canal treatment, removal of the crowns, and placement of new ones, paying an additional Rs 1.38 lakh.
The dentist denied the allegations, stating that the treatment was discussed with the patient and her husband, and that she had agreed to the procedures. The commission, however, found deficiency in service due to the dentist's inability to provide signed informed consent, proper treatment records, or evidence of the patient's agreement with the treatment's shape and shade.
The commission did not accept the patient's claim that the root canal was performed without anesthesia, noting that the patient's legal notice mentioned a failure to provide adequate anesthesia. The dentist also presented photographs, but they were deemed insufficiently authenticated by the commission. The commission ordered the dentist to pay Rs 2 lakh, including litigation costs, within three months.
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