can i sue a dentist for leaving a file in me withouth telling me

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can i sue a dentist for leaving a file in me withouth telling me

they left a file in my root canal and did not tell me and did not file down a tooth witch cased me to have pain.

Asked on October 18, 2017 under Malpractice Law, Ohio

Answers:

SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 6 years ago | Contributor

Legally, you may very well be able to sue, based on what you write; the question is, would it worthwhile to do so?
First, malpractice is the provision of medical (or dental) care which is careless or negligent, or which does not meet then generally accepted standards for such care. Leaving a foreign object (a file) in your mouth and/or not filing down a tooth woud appear to be just such a careless or negligent act, and so the dentist may be liable. 
However, you can only sue for an amount equivalent to the extent of your injury, with large awards generally requiring significant long lasting (months or longer) life impairment or disability; and for any out-of-pocket (not paid by by insurance or Medicare/caid) medical costs to correct the condition. At the same time, a malpractice suit can be a very expensive one to bring, because you really *should* have an attorney, and you MUST hire a medical expert (e.g. another dentist) to examine you, write a report, and testify (the court will not accept a non-expert's opinon, including yours, as to what is or is not accepted medical care, or as to the affect of the alleged malpractice); such medical experts can cost thousands of dollars. Since malpractice cases are so expensive, more minor, less life-impairing, or more easily remedied injuries may not result in sufficient awards or compensation as to justify the  cost of the suit.
Many malpractice attorneys provide a free initial consultation to evaluate a case--you can confirm this before making an appointment with the lawyer. A good idea would be to speak with a malpractice attorney; let an experienced lawyer advise you as to what your case might be worth, what it would cost to pursue it, and whether it is worthwhile.


IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.

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