Complications and medicolegal problems

cause of medical disputes is a lack of communication with the patient and complications that occur after treatment. Complications can occur even when normal treatment has been performed. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons should be well aware of the problems and various complications related to surgical treatments, explain them well to patients, and actively cope with them. Patients are not totally ignorant in respect to medicine, and both their interest in their own health and their medical common sense have noticeably increased. Also, patients request the investigation of causes and want detailed explanations when inappropriate results are brought about; if a medical team does not cope with this appropriately, it can lead to medical disputes, and in many cases a judge will decide against the medical team and hospital. To conclude, I would like to emphasize the following. 1. Medical teams should pay attention to various problems and complications related to surgical treatment and actively cope with them. 2. When a complication occurs, the medical team should explain it to the patient in detail and do their best to settle it. 3. The most important way to minimize medical disputes is for a medical team to have close relationships with patients.