key: cord-0064712-6lghvyu1
authors: Hoppenbrouwers, Rupert
title: Managing patients who decline to wear a face covering
date: 2021-06-18
journal: BDJ Team
DOI: 10.1038/s41407-021-0647-3
sha: b11eacb72f33a92d93d82a24b29a6cabaaaca2ee
doc_id: 64712
cord_uid: 6lghvyu1

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Rupert Hoppenbrouwers, senior dento-legal adviser at the Dental Defence Union (DDU), explains how to manage patients who refuse to wear a face covering while at a dental practice.

Managing patients who decline to wear a face covering https://doi.org/10.1038/s41407-021-0647-3 processes for protecting patients, the dental team and other patients at the time they make their appointment via email and/or text message.

Additionally, ask that patients who decline to wear a face covering inform the practice in advance so that suitable alternative arrangements can be made for them. For example, it may be appropriate to treat such patients remotely, without a face-to-face consultation or to see them at the end of a session, when no other patients will be present, or having them enter the practice through another entrance which avoids them mixing with other patients. Be alert to the risk that other patients may complain if they encounter someone not wearing a mask in public areas.

If a patient does inform the practice that they are unable to wear a face covering then it is important to avoid confrontation and refrain from suggesting that it is practice policy that every patient must wear a face covering. Instead, see if the patient will reconsider (it may be worth having a supply of masks in case the patient changes their mind or has simply forgotten their mask) but if they do not change their mind, explain that you have procedures in place to accommodate them and what those procedures are.

Furthermore, it is important not to quiz patients in public areas about their reason for declining to wear a face covering, to avoid appearing insensitive and allegations of a breach of confidentiality. If a patient states they have a medical condition which has not been previously declared in their medical history, it is perfectly reasonable for the treating clinician to ask the patient for further information, again in private. That further information should be sought simply to ensure you have a complete medical history for the patient's safe dental treatment, and not to make a judgement on whether the patient's refusal to wear a face covering is rational or otherwise.

However, if a patient refuses to give a full medical history, provided the patient understands the reason for asking for it and the consequences of not providing it, it might be reasonable to decline treatment, but only on the basis that it is required for their safe dental treatment and is totally unconnected to their refusal to wear a face covering.

For more information about mask exemption visit www.theddu.com or DDU members can call the DDU's 24-hour helpline on 0800 374 626.

Put patients' interests first