California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Assembly Bill 1622, which revises language in the written consent form that dentists must provide to patients before administering general anesthesia and deep or moderate sedation.
The new law does not impact the practice of dentistry, the California Dental Association (CDA) advises. Yet the CDA notes that beginning January 1, 2020, dentists in the state should ensure they are using a consent form that complies with the new law.
According to the CDA, the required language now reads:
“The administration and monitoring of deep sedation or general anesthesia may vary depending on the type of procedure, the type of practitioner, the age and health of the patient, and the setting in which anesthesia is provided. Risks may vary with each specific situation. You are encouraged to explore all the options available for your child’s anesthesia for their dental treatment, and consult with your dentist, family physician, or pediatrician as needed.”
The Dentists Insurance Company (TDIC) has updated its consent form template to include the required language updates. Policyholders can access the updated form in nine languages on the TDIC website. All CDA members can access the form in nine languages in the file “Guidelines for Informed Consent” in the organization’s Practice Support resource library.
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