Professional indemnity insurance: liability cover for dentists

In an age of greater familiarity with compensation claims and legal action, professionals are finding it increasingly important to protect their interests. Professional indemnity insurance can safeguard a business against financial loss, injury or damage caused through accident or negligence. In the case of dentists, a mistake, or lack of required skill, can prove very costly indeed without sufficient insurance.

How professional indemnity insurance benefits dentists

A professional indemnity insurance policy shields a dentist’s assets in the event of a claim, ensuring that he or she is able to continue practicing. It also ensures against civil liability, helping to cover amounts awarded to a claimant by a civil court. This can also include situations when negligence has not played a part and claims derive from strict accountability.

As a condition of registration, dental practitioners in Australia are required to take out a minimum standard of professional indemnity insurance. As a compulsory form of insurance, professional indemnity cover protects dentists against financial loss and injury or damage arising from a mistake or failure with negligence. In addition to claims stemming from negligent acts, a policy may cover a dentist for the following:

• Dishonesty
• Defamation
• Breach of confidence
• Irrecoverable fees
• Computer virus transmission
• Public liability
• Legal expenses

Professional indemnity insurance can be crucial from a client’s point of view also, providing an alternative option in extraordinary circumstances. In these cases, a dentist’s professional cover can ensure that clients are not left open to mistakes or treatment failures that are ineligible for direct compensation. A client can claim in the case of loss, damage or injury as a result of a dentist’s negligence or direct responsibility.

Dental practitioners in Australia have a choice of a number of regulated insurers, and the National Insurance Brokers Association (NIBA) can help in finding a qualified insurance broker in your local area. Policies with adequate, affordable cover are available with a range of different premium amounts to suit practitioners in different circumstances, with up to $10million cover per policy.

If you are a dental practitioner seeking insurance that will best cover you in the unfortunate event of a claim for injury or property damage, discuss options with an experienced, qualified broker to ensure that you aren’t without the right protection when the unexpected occurs.