Legal Analysis of the Protection of Dental Professional Students from the Risk of Malpractice Lawsuits in Teaching Hospitals
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Abstract
Dental students (interns/junior dentists) occupy a unique position in healthcare because they are directly involved in clinical procedures in teaching hospitals but do not yet have independent practice authority as stipulated in Law Number 17 of 2023 concerning Health, Article 263. Unclear regulations concerning their legal status, authority, responsibility, and protection may create legal uncertainty, particularly when clinical incidents result in patient harm. This study aims to analyze the construction of legal responsibility for dental students and the forms of legal protection available against the risk of malpractice claims in teaching hospitals. This normative legal study employs statutory and conceptual approaches. Primary and secondary legal materials were analyzed qualitatively through legal interpretation and legal argumentation to identify normative gaps and examine the relationship between authority, supervision, and legal responsibility. The findings indicate that dental students’ legal responsibility is limited and situational. Clinical procedures must be performed under authorized instructions, approval, and supervision of the DPJP. Under mandate-based delegation, responsibility remains with the mandate giver when actions remain within authorized limits and supervision. Students may be personally liable when acting beyond authority, without approval, or contrary to SOPs and professional ethics. Preventive protection includes clear regulations, competency-based authority, supervision, informed consent, and proper documentation, while repressive protection involves dispute-resolution mechanisms.
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