New Hampshire Rep. Mike Drago introduced a bill earlier this month that would help protect dentists if they treat patients who refuse X-rays.
Four notes:
1. House Bill 1286 allows a dentist to treat a patient who has declined to have a recommended X-ray unless doing so would violate the dental standard of care.
2. When a patient declines to have an X-ray, a dentist may require them to sign a waiver of liability, which would waive the patient’s right to sue the dentist in the event that the lack of an X-ray results in unforeseen injury.
3. In such cases, dentists would avoid disciplinary actions such as license suspensions or revocations.
4. If passed, the bill would go into effect 60 days after being enacted.
