Q: Dear lawyer, I started fixing my teeth for my full mouth with a dentist in 2017. In the beginning, we fixed a price of 28000 and I've been told by him that it will take few months to complete the work. After that, he never completed it till now 2021. Many times, some of the teeth have been broken and almost 6 times in several spots plus the pain they are causing me. The dentist never completed the work till now and he is always delaying my appointments. I've been asking him several times that I need to finish as it is taking too much time plus it costs me a lot taking taxis every time to his clinic. Also, he's been asking me several times to pay extra charges; we almost reached AED 30500. Note that I have to beg for appointments. Now I want to go to another dentist to complete the work and I want him to pay for that and I need him to compensate me for all the money I spent on taxis and extra charges. Will I win my case?

Q: Hi, In June 2016, I had too much pain in my tooth and I went to a renowned hospital in Abu Dhabi and did the root canal treatment. After the treatment, I had pain several times in the same area but last week I again had too much pain and it's unbearable. So I went and checked with another dentist in another hospital. And after the X-ray, we found out that the last RCT that was done in June 2016 was very bad. There was a broken instrument in my tooth and because of that I have a serious infection and I need to go for dental extraction and dental implant afterwards. It's a case of medical negligence and I would like to file a case. Can you please advise me what would be better for me? Thanks and waiting for your kind reply.

Q: Dental malpractice: My daughter had a root canal done by a specialist pediatric dentist at a major hospital in Dubai and final reports and doctor claimed it was completed. After that, the final payment was made and we were given a form for an insurance claim that everything was completed. However, after going to another establishment, X-rays showed the root canal was not completed and the child is required to go through the whole procedure again causing mental agony and pain. My child is not willing to go to any dentist much alone the same dentist because of the traumatic events and pain she endured of the 1st root canal which was supposedly done over 3 sittings. I contacted the 1st hospital and they agreed in writing that it was a mistake. The doctor also has called me personally to apologize and he would carry out the procedure including additional services free of cost. My child is 3 years old and traumatized and unwilling to go to any dentist. What are my options to claim?

Medical treatment provided to patients does not always achieve the desired results, and sometimes it may lead to catastrophic consequences that cannot be remedied. This is due to several factors, some of these factors are related to the therapist or to the patient himself, or even related to God's will. It was, therefore, necessary for the legislator to intervene and develop the laws governing medical malpractice cases and set the limitations of liability for the therapist in such cases.

The provisions of this law, promulgating UAE Civil Code, govern the civil transactions in the United Arab Emirates. The commercial transactions remain subject to the laws and regulations applicable in their regard.