A paedophile who was unhappy with the treatment he got when he had toothache is in line for a second payout.
Neil Robertson, who was dubbed a dangerous psychopath during his trial, successfully sued prison bosses in 2009 when he blamed Peterhead jail staff for failing to get him an NHS dentist.
Now the child molester is suing the Scottish Prison Service for £20,000, claiming the treatment he eventually received wasn’t good enough.
It’s understood the 48-year-old had to have several teeth removed because of what a health expert described as “negligent” dental work.
A civil action due to be held at Peterhead Sheriff Court has been abandoned to allow extra time to work on a compensation plan.
A prison service spokesman confirmed yesterday they were now working on an out-of-court settlement.
Robertson, originally from Ayrshire, was jailed for life in 2003 for abusing a seven-year-old girl.
He met the child’s mother through an internet chatroom and wooed her by pretending to be a pilot, a businessman and a qualified psychologist.
But he then turned his attention to the youngster and took photographs of himself abusing the girl.
North East Scotland Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald said: “At the end of the day, anyone has the right to take legal action.
“But you have to ask why someone sent to prison for a serious crime is investing so much time and energy into making these claims.
“It doesn’t suggest he is very focused on his rehabilitation, which is what he was sent to prison for in the first place.
“The main point is that treatment of prisoners in jail has to be brought up to standard to avoid more complaints like this.”
Yesterday, the Record revealed how only 51 of 850 sex offenders behind bars in Scotland are taking part in rehabilitation courses.
This article is courtesy of the Daily Record.
Regularly updated blog featuring news, articles and information relating to clinical/medical negligence.
Showing posts with label Dental Negligence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dental Negligence. Show all posts
Wednesday, 27 August 2014
Friday, 8 August 2014
Bristol dentist pulled out wrong tooth in medical blunder!
A dentist pulled out the wrong tooth, while doctors operated on the incorrect area of a patient's hand in a series of errors at the trust which runs the Bristol Royal Infirmary. The University Hospitals of Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, which runs all of the city centre hospitals, has recorded two 'never events' since April.
These are serious blunders which should not occur if all proper procedures are followed, the trust said.
The first involved one patient, who was having multiple teeth removed, enduring an extra tooth at the back of their mouth being taken out unnecessarily. The patient was told about the mistake and offered to have the tooth re-implanted, but this was turned down.
A trust spokesman said: "During April and May, two events took place in our hospitals. One event took place in April and involved "wrong site surgery".
"During a multiple dental extraction, an additional tooth at the back of the mouth was removed instead of the adjacent one." He said a surgical safety checklist was completed prior to the treatment and the appropriate x-rays were on display.
He added: "The patient was informed of the error as soon as it was identified and an apology was given. Remedial treatment in the form of re-implanting the tooth was offered, but declined."
The following month another event was recorded at the same trust. This involved a patient having the ligament in their hands cut when they were supposed to be having surgery to release tension in their tendon.
A trust spokesman said: "A second 'wrong site surgery' event occurred in May, when an incorrect procedure was performed on a day- case patient. The patient was correctly identified and the correct hand operated on.
"However, the surgeon performed a carpal tunnel release instead of a De Quervain's release, a similar procedure. The patient was informed of the error as soon as it was identified and an apology was given. The patient elected to have the correct procedure the same day and it was performed uneventfully."
He added: "As we do with all serious incidents, the trust conducted a root cause analysis into both events to establish what happened, identify any learning and make recommendations for improvement actions."
Between April to May there were no similar events recorded at either North Bristol Trust, which runs Southmead Hospital, or at Weston Area Health NHS Trust, which run Weston-super-Mare's hospital.
This article is courtesy of the Bristol Post.
These are serious blunders which should not occur if all proper procedures are followed, the trust said.
The first involved one patient, who was having multiple teeth removed, enduring an extra tooth at the back of their mouth being taken out unnecessarily. The patient was told about the mistake and offered to have the tooth re-implanted, but this was turned down.
A trust spokesman said: "During April and May, two events took place in our hospitals. One event took place in April and involved "wrong site surgery".
"During a multiple dental extraction, an additional tooth at the back of the mouth was removed instead of the adjacent one." He said a surgical safety checklist was completed prior to the treatment and the appropriate x-rays were on display.
He added: "The patient was informed of the error as soon as it was identified and an apology was given. Remedial treatment in the form of re-implanting the tooth was offered, but declined."
The following month another event was recorded at the same trust. This involved a patient having the ligament in their hands cut when they were supposed to be having surgery to release tension in their tendon.
A trust spokesman said: "A second 'wrong site surgery' event occurred in May, when an incorrect procedure was performed on a day- case patient. The patient was correctly identified and the correct hand operated on.
"However, the surgeon performed a carpal tunnel release instead of a De Quervain's release, a similar procedure. The patient was informed of the error as soon as it was identified and an apology was given. The patient elected to have the correct procedure the same day and it was performed uneventfully."
He added: "As we do with all serious incidents, the trust conducted a root cause analysis into both events to establish what happened, identify any learning and make recommendations for improvement actions."
Between April to May there were no similar events recorded at either North Bristol Trust, which runs Southmead Hospital, or at Weston Area Health NHS Trust, which run Weston-super-Mare's hospital.
This article is courtesy of the Bristol Post.
Wednesday, 26 March 2014
3 year old suffered heart attack during a dental visit was given the MAXIMUM DOSE of sedatives and anesthesia
An adorable 3-year-old girl who suffered a heart attack during a dentist visit likely died because she was given the maximum dose of sedative drugs, according to an autopsy report.
Finley Puleo Boyle, of Kailua in Honolulu, Hawaii, probably died because of the sedatives and local anesthesia that were administered during her December dental procedure, Honolulu Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Christopher Happy concluded in his autopsy report. He classified the death as an accident.
The girl lapsed into a coma on December 3 in the office of Dr. Lilly Geyer at Island Dentistry for Children. She died on January 3. The office has since closed.
The autopsy report said the previously healthy girl had no signs of underlying heart problems or an allergic reaction to the array of sedatives and anesthetic she received in preparation for cavity fillings and root canals, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported Friday.
The medical examiner noted her teeth were in good shape: 'the oral cavity has native dentition in good repair.'
The autopsy report said the previously healthy girl had no signs of underlying heart problems or an allergic reaction to the array of sedatives and anesthetic she received in preparation for cavity fillings and root canals, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported Friday.
The medical examiner noted her teeth were in good shape: 'the oral cavity has native dentition in good repair.'
Finley received five drugs, according to the report, including Demerol, hydroxyzine and chlorohydrate. She was also given laughing gas and an injection of a local anesthetic, lidocaine with epinephrine.
'Immediately following the lidocaine injection, the decedent became unresponsive and went into cardiopulmonary arrest,' Happy said in his report.
Parents Ashley and Evan Boyle filed a negligence lawsuit while their only child was in a coma. Their attorney, Rick Fried, would not comment on the autopsy report.
Geyer's attorney, John Nishimoto, has called the allegations 'unproven' but declined to comment further because of the lawsuit. He didn't respond to the newspaper's requests for comment on the autopsy report Thursday.
Geyer was issued a license to practice dentistry in the state in July 2005, the Star-Advertiser has previously reported.
As of last December, there were no records of complaints against her or her practice on file with the Hawaii Department Of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, according to the newspaper.
Ms Boyle is being represented by attorney Richard Fried who called the maximum dosages of five different drugs 'grossly excessive'.
He cited the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry's standards which warned that young children should be monitored every five minutes and that an extra person should be there to help in case resuscitation is needed.
The procedure on December 3 broke both of those rules. Instead of checking Finley's oxygen levels every five minutes, records show she wasn't checked for 26 minutes which explains why the brain damage was so severe.
When the girl went into cardiac arrest, a doctor from another office had to be brought in to perform CPR - which Ms Boyle believes is the main reason her daughter fell into a coma.
Ms Boyle was left with the agonizing decision to not resuscitate her daughter, saying that although she held out hope that her daughter would recover she didn't want her to live in a vegetative state.
'Had it been initiated at the correct time, she'd be walking out of the hospital right now,' Boyle said.
Finley may not have even needed the fillings. Ms Boyle has been contacted by others mothers who got second opinions after visiting Dr Geyer and found out that her recommendations were 'either totally unnecessary or somewhat unnecessary' according to Fried.
Other mothers said their children had trouble walking for a few days after having work done by Dr Geyer.
Ms Boyle calls the botched procedure a 'massive tragedy' that she and her family 'will have to deal with for the rest of our lives.'
In January, new state rules took effect tightening oversight of dental sedation in Hawaii.
This article is courtesy of the Daily Mail.
Finley Puleo Boyle, of Kailua in Honolulu, Hawaii, probably died because of the sedatives and local anesthesia that were administered during her December dental procedure, Honolulu Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Christopher Happy concluded in his autopsy report. He classified the death as an accident.
The girl lapsed into a coma on December 3 in the office of Dr. Lilly Geyer at Island Dentistry for Children. She died on January 3. The office has since closed.
The autopsy report said the previously healthy girl had no signs of underlying heart problems or an allergic reaction to the array of sedatives and anesthetic she received in preparation for cavity fillings and root canals, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported Friday.
The medical examiner noted her teeth were in good shape: 'the oral cavity has native dentition in good repair.'
The autopsy report said the previously healthy girl had no signs of underlying heart problems or an allergic reaction to the array of sedatives and anesthetic she received in preparation for cavity fillings and root canals, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported Friday.
The medical examiner noted her teeth were in good shape: 'the oral cavity has native dentition in good repair.'
Finley received five drugs, according to the report, including Demerol, hydroxyzine and chlorohydrate. She was also given laughing gas and an injection of a local anesthetic, lidocaine with epinephrine.
'Immediately following the lidocaine injection, the decedent became unresponsive and went into cardiopulmonary arrest,' Happy said in his report.
Parents Ashley and Evan Boyle filed a negligence lawsuit while their only child was in a coma. Their attorney, Rick Fried, would not comment on the autopsy report.
Geyer's attorney, John Nishimoto, has called the allegations 'unproven' but declined to comment further because of the lawsuit. He didn't respond to the newspaper's requests for comment on the autopsy report Thursday.
Geyer was issued a license to practice dentistry in the state in July 2005, the Star-Advertiser has previously reported.
As of last December, there were no records of complaints against her or her practice on file with the Hawaii Department Of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, according to the newspaper.
Ms Boyle is being represented by attorney Richard Fried who called the maximum dosages of five different drugs 'grossly excessive'.
He cited the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry's standards which warned that young children should be monitored every five minutes and that an extra person should be there to help in case resuscitation is needed.
The procedure on December 3 broke both of those rules. Instead of checking Finley's oxygen levels every five minutes, records show she wasn't checked for 26 minutes which explains why the brain damage was so severe.
When the girl went into cardiac arrest, a doctor from another office had to be brought in to perform CPR - which Ms Boyle believes is the main reason her daughter fell into a coma.
Ms Boyle was left with the agonizing decision to not resuscitate her daughter, saying that although she held out hope that her daughter would recover she didn't want her to live in a vegetative state.
'Had it been initiated at the correct time, she'd be walking out of the hospital right now,' Boyle said.
Finley may not have even needed the fillings. Ms Boyle has been contacted by others mothers who got second opinions after visiting Dr Geyer and found out that her recommendations were 'either totally unnecessary or somewhat unnecessary' according to Fried.
Other mothers said their children had trouble walking for a few days after having work done by Dr Geyer.
Ms Boyle calls the botched procedure a 'massive tragedy' that she and her family 'will have to deal with for the rest of our lives.'
In January, new state rules took effect tightening oversight of dental sedation in Hawaii.
This article is courtesy of the Daily Mail.
Wednesday, 1 January 2014
Top dentist failed to spot dangerous oral tumour
One of Northern Ireland's top dentists reassured a woman with mouth cancer that her tumour was benign, a hearing has heard.
Professor Philip Lamey (above), a dentist at Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital, misdiagnosed a cancerous growth in her mouth, mistaking it for a much less serious condition, stated regulators.
The patient had been referred to him with frictional keratosis.
Professor Lamey then failed to arrange a follow-up appointment in time to review her condition, later revealed to be cancer.
The allegations were put to a Practice Committee by the General Dental Council in a hearing held inLondon yesterday.
Professor Lamey faced a total of 46 charges of clinical negligence relating to 33 patients. Concerns were raised after a number of patients developed cancers that could have been caught earlier.
In total, 135 of his patients at the School of Dentistry at the RVH had to be recalled amid fears any cancers could have been missed.
Thirty-five of his patients were later diagnosed and four died.
A panel from the GDC's Practice Committee heard how the dentist had diagnosed a lesion as frictional keratosis, despite the patient being a smoker.
Prof Lamey faced two charges for his care of the patient, known as Patient 23, for failing to make any follow-up appointments and failing to maintain adequate records. Addressing the panel, counsel for the GDC, Mr David Bradly said: "A follow-up was required. I put it to (witness) Prof Challacombe that you would make arrangements to be reviewed as appropriate.
"The answer was 'I think so yes'. "(There were) no follow-up arrangements made at all with respect to Patient 23."
Mr Bradly summarised Prof Lamey's notes, saying to the court: "It refers to traumatic ulceration, patient reassured of the benign nature of this."
Prof Stephen Challacombe is an expert witness for Prof Lamey.
Mr Bradly criticised evidence given by the witness, suggesting he had read into Prof Lamey's notes "too closely".
In written evidence Prof Challacombe had defended some of Prof Lamey's decisions not to carry out biopsies on patients, although this changed in court.
The case was adjourned.
This article is courtesy from the Belfast Telegraph.
Professor Philip Lamey (above), a dentist at Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital, misdiagnosed a cancerous growth in her mouth, mistaking it for a much less serious condition, stated regulators.
The patient had been referred to him with frictional keratosis.
Professor Lamey then failed to arrange a follow-up appointment in time to review her condition, later revealed to be cancer.
The allegations were put to a Practice Committee by the General Dental Council in a hearing held inLondon yesterday.
Professor Lamey faced a total of 46 charges of clinical negligence relating to 33 patients. Concerns were raised after a number of patients developed cancers that could have been caught earlier.
In total, 135 of his patients at the School of Dentistry at the RVH had to be recalled amid fears any cancers could have been missed.
Thirty-five of his patients were later diagnosed and four died.
A panel from the GDC's Practice Committee heard how the dentist had diagnosed a lesion as frictional keratosis, despite the patient being a smoker.
Prof Lamey faced two charges for his care of the patient, known as Patient 23, for failing to make any follow-up appointments and failing to maintain adequate records. Addressing the panel, counsel for the GDC, Mr David Bradly said: "A follow-up was required. I put it to (witness) Prof Challacombe that you would make arrangements to be reviewed as appropriate.
"The answer was 'I think so yes'. "(There were) no follow-up arrangements made at all with respect to Patient 23."
Mr Bradly summarised Prof Lamey's notes, saying to the court: "It refers to traumatic ulceration, patient reassured of the benign nature of this."
Prof Stephen Challacombe is an expert witness for Prof Lamey.
Mr Bradly criticised evidence given by the witness, suggesting he had read into Prof Lamey's notes "too closely".
In written evidence Prof Challacombe had defended some of Prof Lamey's decisions not to carry out biopsies on patients, although this changed in court.
The case was adjourned.
This article is courtesy from the Belfast Telegraph.
Saturday, 5 October 2013
Patient successfully sues Bury dentist for £22,000 after treatment leaves her with chronic gum disease
A Bury woman has been awarded £22,000 in compensation after dental treatment led to chronic gum disease and tooth extractions.
Heidi Hofbauer, aged 52, successfully sued Dr David Broman from The Dental Practice in Knowsley Street after his failure to treat her gum disease led to bone loss, recurrent bouts of infection and the removal of three teeth.
She says she will also need to have six other teeth extracted in the future.
Mrs Hofbauer said she went to see Dr Broman in 2004 because a filling in a lower right tooth was chipped. He fixed the filling and later fitted a crown.
She returned that July with tenderness in the same tooth and was prescribed antibiotics.
“The antibiotics worked for a while but the pain would return more severe than before,” said Mrs Hofbauer.
Mrs Hofbauer went back to Dr Broman for regular check-ups between 2005 and 2008 and was prescribed antibiotics for further tooth infections.
She continued: “Dr Broman eventually told me the tooth he had treated in 2004 now needed to be extracted, which he did in October 2008. I had two more teeth removed on his advice in April and May 2009.”
The Dental Law Partnership (DLP) took on her case, and solicitor Heather Williams said: “Dr Broman failed to treat Heidi for the early signs of gum disease, which then led to severe consequences.”
Dr Broman, who did not admit liability said: “I am disappointed that the treatment fell short of what the patient expected on this occasion and I hope the settlement goes some way to resolving the matter.
“Although I will not comment publicly about individual cases due to patient confidentiality, I always strive to provide the best standard of care for all my patients.”
This article is courtesy from the Bury Times.
Heidi Hofbauer, aged 52, successfully sued Dr David Broman from The Dental Practice in Knowsley Street after his failure to treat her gum disease led to bone loss, recurrent bouts of infection and the removal of three teeth.
She says she will also need to have six other teeth extracted in the future.
Mrs Hofbauer said she went to see Dr Broman in 2004 because a filling in a lower right tooth was chipped. He fixed the filling and later fitted a crown.
She returned that July with tenderness in the same tooth and was prescribed antibiotics.
“The antibiotics worked for a while but the pain would return more severe than before,” said Mrs Hofbauer.
Mrs Hofbauer went back to Dr Broman for regular check-ups between 2005 and 2008 and was prescribed antibiotics for further tooth infections.
She continued: “Dr Broman eventually told me the tooth he had treated in 2004 now needed to be extracted, which he did in October 2008. I had two more teeth removed on his advice in April and May 2009.”
The Dental Law Partnership (DLP) took on her case, and solicitor Heather Williams said: “Dr Broman failed to treat Heidi for the early signs of gum disease, which then led to severe consequences.”
Dr Broman, who did not admit liability said: “I am disappointed that the treatment fell short of what the patient expected on this occasion and I hope the settlement goes some way to resolving the matter.
“Although I will not comment publicly about individual cases due to patient confidentiality, I always strive to provide the best standard of care for all my patients.”
This article is courtesy from the Bury Times.
Monday, 2 September 2013
Patient awarded £27,500 compensation from dentist
A patient who was left needing extensive dental surgery after "unnecessary" implants were installed in her gums has been awarded £27,500 from a Reigate dentist.
Harriet Moggridge, 26, who was born with a rare genetic condition which left her with less than half the normal number of adult teeth, had hoped she would finally get the smile she always wanted when she agreed to two teeth implants.
But her experience soon turned into a dental nightmare after she was slapped with a bill for four implants rather than two, which she hadn't agreed to and which began to fail just a few months later.
"It was a nightmare, as you can imagine," said Miss Moggridge.
"I'm feeling a lot better now that we've won but it's still annoying that I've had to go through all this.
"I've still got to have corrective surgery done so most of the money is going on that."
Her problems started in July 2010 following the surgery in which Miss Moggridge thought her dentist, Dr Henk Freeke of the Ringley Park Dental Practice in Reigate, was going to remove two teeth and install two implants.
But after waking up from surgery with a black eye and an intense pain she immediately knew something was wrong and sought a second opinion.
"I went to another dentist in Teddington and he said he was shocked at what he saw," she continued.
"I couldn't believe the look on his face when he saw the right side of my head.
"When we did the corrective surgery he didn't have to use anything to get the implants out – they just fell out.
"Also because I suffer from Ectodermal Dysplasia I don't have much bone in my mouth anyway and the implants were too big for my gums and they'd gone into my sinuses.
"My other dentist did a CT scan, which he said should have been taken before but wasn't, and saw straight away it was wrong."
After three years of surgery, and with more still ahead of her, Miss Moggridge says she is hopeful she will now be able to put this saga behind her and use her compensation to fund more corrective surgery to put right everything that has happened before now.
"It wasn't supposed to take this long," she added.
"It just doesn't do your confidence any good because this is something that should've been done two or three years ago, so it's quite depressing.
"Now I've found a really good dentist who's helping me out."
Yvonne Berry, practice manager at Ringley Park Dental Practice, said: "We're disappointed that the treatment didn't go as well as expected and we hope the settlement goes some way to settling the matter for this patient."
This article is courtesy of This is Surrey Today.
Harriet Moggridge, 26, who was born with a rare genetic condition which left her with less than half the normal number of adult teeth, had hoped she would finally get the smile she always wanted when she agreed to two teeth implants.
But her experience soon turned into a dental nightmare after she was slapped with a bill for four implants rather than two, which she hadn't agreed to and which began to fail just a few months later.
"It was a nightmare, as you can imagine," said Miss Moggridge.
"I'm feeling a lot better now that we've won but it's still annoying that I've had to go through all this.
"I've still got to have corrective surgery done so most of the money is going on that."
Her problems started in July 2010 following the surgery in which Miss Moggridge thought her dentist, Dr Henk Freeke of the Ringley Park Dental Practice in Reigate, was going to remove two teeth and install two implants.
But after waking up from surgery with a black eye and an intense pain she immediately knew something was wrong and sought a second opinion.
"I went to another dentist in Teddington and he said he was shocked at what he saw," she continued.
"I couldn't believe the look on his face when he saw the right side of my head.
"When we did the corrective surgery he didn't have to use anything to get the implants out – they just fell out.
"Also because I suffer from Ectodermal Dysplasia I don't have much bone in my mouth anyway and the implants were too big for my gums and they'd gone into my sinuses.
"My other dentist did a CT scan, which he said should have been taken before but wasn't, and saw straight away it was wrong."
After three years of surgery, and with more still ahead of her, Miss Moggridge says she is hopeful she will now be able to put this saga behind her and use her compensation to fund more corrective surgery to put right everything that has happened before now.
"It wasn't supposed to take this long," she added.
"It just doesn't do your confidence any good because this is something that should've been done two or three years ago, so it's quite depressing.
"Now I've found a really good dentist who's helping me out."
Yvonne Berry, practice manager at Ringley Park Dental Practice, said: "We're disappointed that the treatment didn't go as well as expected and we hope the settlement goes some way to settling the matter for this patient."
This article is courtesy of This is Surrey Today.
Saturday, 3 August 2013
Millions awarded to dental patients who received unnecessary dental treatments
A former dentist was recently prosecuted for administering unnecessary dental treatments to 29 of his patients.
The man in question, Henri Duyzend, performed thousands of needless root canal treatments on over 500 patients over the years, before finally retiring in 2007.
Washington’s Department of Health received 76 complaints regarding his negligence as thousands of patients were receiving several root canals, typically a person should only receive two in their whole lifetime.
Duyzend failed to communicate consent with his patients and fraudulently carried out the dental work. According to the verdict, this is one of the largest cases of dental negligence the state has ever seen.
Laurel Stuart, one of Duyzend’s patients, said he lured her in with his friendliness and always made her feel comfortable as she was one of his first patients since he began practicing in 1977. Laurel is set to receive a lump sum of $98,000 because every time she visited Duyzend he suggested she required root canal treatment and crown work, when her teeth were perfectly healthy.
She then went on to say that she can’t erase the feelings of being betrayed by Duyzend over the years and has to use her money to pay for the other dental bills she received following his botched treatments.
Laurel stresses the importance of seeking second opinions if a patient is ever unsure about any dental work their receiving. She said she wasn’t an expert and trusted her dentist, which landed her with a number of painful dental visits and costly bills.
This article is courtesy of the Cosmetic Dentistry Guide .
The man in question, Henri Duyzend, performed thousands of needless root canal treatments on over 500 patients over the years, before finally retiring in 2007.
Washington’s Department of Health received 76 complaints regarding his negligence as thousands of patients were receiving several root canals, typically a person should only receive two in their whole lifetime.
Duyzend failed to communicate consent with his patients and fraudulently carried out the dental work. According to the verdict, this is one of the largest cases of dental negligence the state has ever seen.
Laurel Stuart, one of Duyzend’s patients, said he lured her in with his friendliness and always made her feel comfortable as she was one of his first patients since he began practicing in 1977. Laurel is set to receive a lump sum of $98,000 because every time she visited Duyzend he suggested she required root canal treatment and crown work, when her teeth were perfectly healthy.
She then went on to say that she can’t erase the feelings of being betrayed by Duyzend over the years and has to use her money to pay for the other dental bills she received following his botched treatments.
Laurel stresses the importance of seeking second opinions if a patient is ever unsure about any dental work their receiving. She said she wasn’t an expert and trusted her dentist, which landed her with a number of painful dental visits and costly bills.
This article is courtesy of the Cosmetic Dentistry Guide .
Sunday, 28 July 2013
Dentist to pay compensation to ex-patient
A Wigan orthodontist is to pay damages to a former patient who claims she suffered years of poor dental treatment.
Barry Rimmer, who owns Ashton Dental Practice in Ashton, has agreed to pay an undisclosed sum to Lindsey Kay, following an out-of-court settlement over claims of negligent treatment she received from him between 2002 and 2009.
The 22-year-old from Wigan went to see Dr Rimmer to have fixed appliances fitted to correct her teeth.
When the braces were removed, she was unhappy with the result, as she was left with a gap in her lower teeth and her front upper molars were no longer central.
Her left central incisor was in the middle, meaning all her teeth were out of alignment.
An implant was fitted in the gap and further retainers were fitted in an attempt to realign the front teeth.
But the retainers failed to correct the problem and her treatment was completed in 2009 - with the misalignment still not fixed.
She claims she suffered several years of substandard care from her dentist.
She found it particularly upsetting because this treatment took place throughout her secondary education, a challenging time for any teenager even without dental problems.
Miss Kay now faces several years of painful and complicated restorative treatment to correct the problem.
Nick Grant, a dental negligence special and partner at Devonshires Solicitors in London, said: “This was a clear case of negligent treatment and poor care provided to a vulnerable young girl. I am delighted that Devonshires was able to help Miss Kay and obtain sufficient compensation for her to allow her to undergo the various procedures now required to correct the problems caused by the negligence.
Miss Kay said she was pleased with the result.
She said: “I can now put the worries about my teeth behind me and get them sorted.
“I finally feel as though the dentist has admitted that he was wrong.”
Mr Rimmer failed to respond to our requests for a comment. This is not the first time Mr Rimmer’s professionalism has been questioned.
At a misconduct hearing in July 2010, the General Dental Council found Mr Rimmer guilty of allowing 15 youngsters to be injected with powerful sedatives and failing to inform parents about their risks.
But a watchdog last year cleared him of any wrongdoing and ruled his fitness to practice was not impaired.
Dr Rimmer qualified from Liverpool University in 1986 and he became an associate at Dr Chow’s Dental Practice Group in Liverpool until he opened his own practice in 1989.
He is also a member of The International Association for Orthodontics.
This article is courtesy of Wigan Today.
Barry Rimmer, who owns Ashton Dental Practice in Ashton, has agreed to pay an undisclosed sum to Lindsey Kay, following an out-of-court settlement over claims of negligent treatment she received from him between 2002 and 2009.
The 22-year-old from Wigan went to see Dr Rimmer to have fixed appliances fitted to correct her teeth.
When the braces were removed, she was unhappy with the result, as she was left with a gap in her lower teeth and her front upper molars were no longer central.
Her left central incisor was in the middle, meaning all her teeth were out of alignment.
An implant was fitted in the gap and further retainers were fitted in an attempt to realign the front teeth.
But the retainers failed to correct the problem and her treatment was completed in 2009 - with the misalignment still not fixed.
She claims she suffered several years of substandard care from her dentist.
She found it particularly upsetting because this treatment took place throughout her secondary education, a challenging time for any teenager even without dental problems.
Miss Kay now faces several years of painful and complicated restorative treatment to correct the problem.
Nick Grant, a dental negligence special and partner at Devonshires Solicitors in London, said: “This was a clear case of negligent treatment and poor care provided to a vulnerable young girl. I am delighted that Devonshires was able to help Miss Kay and obtain sufficient compensation for her to allow her to undergo the various procedures now required to correct the problems caused by the negligence.
Miss Kay said she was pleased with the result.
She said: “I can now put the worries about my teeth behind me and get them sorted.
“I finally feel as though the dentist has admitted that he was wrong.”
Mr Rimmer failed to respond to our requests for a comment. This is not the first time Mr Rimmer’s professionalism has been questioned.
At a misconduct hearing in July 2010, the General Dental Council found Mr Rimmer guilty of allowing 15 youngsters to be injected with powerful sedatives and failing to inform parents about their risks.
But a watchdog last year cleared him of any wrongdoing and ruled his fitness to practice was not impaired.
Dr Rimmer qualified from Liverpool University in 1986 and he became an associate at Dr Chow’s Dental Practice Group in Liverpool until he opened his own practice in 1989.
He is also a member of The International Association for Orthodontics.
This article is courtesy of Wigan Today.
Monday, 24 June 2013
The potential consequences of NHS negligence
The NHS is something that many of us take for granted in the UK, and whilst it might not be perfect, our health service is not something that we should hold our noses up at.
Having said that, when we go into hospital or visit our GP, we are to an extent putting our lives in the hands of these medical professionals and entrusting them with it. With that comes a responsibility on their part, to take care of us to the best of their ability and act professionally at all times.
On most occasions this is exactly what happens, but every now and then mistakes are made that can lead to more harm than good. If a doctor makes a mistake and injury is considered to be a direct result of that, then it is very possible that you have suffered from NHS negligence and, as a result, hold ground to file for compensation.
Typical claims
Claims against the NHS are incredibly varied and can include injury to babies, misdiagnosis of a condition, surgical errors, dental injuries and administration of the wrong treatment to name just a few. There are a great many more examples of cases that are made claiming NHS negligence and those that can provide adequate evidence to support their claim, receive an appropriate amount in compensation.
The exact figure will be negotiated between your own personal injury solicitor and that of the NHS, and most of the time both parties agree to settle out of court. This saves both time and money and everyone wants the process over with as fast as possible. The amount you get in compensation will depend on the extent of your suffering, physically and psychology, as well as your financial loss as a result of your injury.
Having said that, when we go into hospital or visit our GP, we are to an extent putting our lives in the hands of these medical professionals and entrusting them with it. With that comes a responsibility on their part, to take care of us to the best of their ability and act professionally at all times.
On most occasions this is exactly what happens, but every now and then mistakes are made that can lead to more harm than good. If a doctor makes a mistake and injury is considered to be a direct result of that, then it is very possible that you have suffered from NHS negligence and, as a result, hold ground to file for compensation.
Typical claims
Claims against the NHS are incredibly varied and can include injury to babies, misdiagnosis of a condition, surgical errors, dental injuries and administration of the wrong treatment to name just a few. There are a great many more examples of cases that are made claiming NHS negligence and those that can provide adequate evidence to support their claim, receive an appropriate amount in compensation.
The exact figure will be negotiated between your own personal injury solicitor and that of the NHS, and most of the time both parties agree to settle out of court. This saves both time and money and everyone wants the process over with as fast as possible. The amount you get in compensation will depend on the extent of your suffering, physically and psychology, as well as your financial loss as a result of your injury.
Taking action against dental negligence
Dentists are doctors in their own right and, as just any other medical professional; they have a duty and responsibility to take care of each of their patients to the best of their ability. By acting negligently, they fail to give the due care and attention that is necessary in such as serious profession. This can lead to making mistakes, which can cause further injury or suffering to their patient.
When you go in to the dental clinic for a procedure of any kind, you expect to leave with the problem having been appropriately treated putting you on the path to recovery. However in some cases this is not what happens and due to dental negligence the patient ends up feeling worse or with a completely new issue than when they initially visited the dentist. If this has happened to you or one of your family members, then you may want to know what action is required on your behalf.
The first step
The first step is to carry out some research on the procedure that you went to have done. You need to know exactly what is expected of the health care providers in order to be sure that they did something wrong. If you feel you have grounds for complaint and have suffered as a result of their actions in a significant way, then you need to find yourself a local firm of personal injury solicitors.
Initially they can offer you some free legal advice and either confirm or deny whether your suspicions of negligence are legitimate. They can also advice you on the likely compensation you will receive if you were to win the case. From here you need to decide whether it is something worth pursuing. You will not be obligated to take any further action and the next step will be completely up to your discretion.
When you go in to the dental clinic for a procedure of any kind, you expect to leave with the problem having been appropriately treated putting you on the path to recovery. However in some cases this is not what happens and due to dental negligence the patient ends up feeling worse or with a completely new issue than when they initially visited the dentist. If this has happened to you or one of your family members, then you may want to know what action is required on your behalf.
The first step
The first step is to carry out some research on the procedure that you went to have done. You need to know exactly what is expected of the health care providers in order to be sure that they did something wrong. If you feel you have grounds for complaint and have suffered as a result of their actions in a significant way, then you need to find yourself a local firm of personal injury solicitors.
Initially they can offer you some free legal advice and either confirm or deny whether your suspicions of negligence are legitimate. They can also advice you on the likely compensation you will receive if you were to win the case. From here you need to decide whether it is something worth pursuing. You will not be obligated to take any further action and the next step will be completely up to your discretion.
Sunday, 19 May 2013
'Essex boys' murderer wins dental pain compensation payout
A man serving a life sentence for the "Essex Boys" gangland murders has won £44,500 damages from the Home Office for negligent dental care.
Michael Steele was jailed for the triple murder of Patrick Tate, Anthony Tucker and Craig Rolfe in 1998.
Last year he was awarded £66,400 in damages.
Appeal Court judges on Friday rejected the Home Office's appeal against negligence findings, but reduced Steele's payout to £44,500.
Steele and Jack Whomes were both convicted after the three victims were shot dead in a Range Rover on an isolated farm track in December 1995 in a gangland dispute over drugs.
Mick Steele Steele was jailed in 1998 for the murders of three men
The Appeal Court heard his Steele's fillings fell out at Belmarsh Prison soon after he was given his three life sentences.
Since then, while being moved between high security prisons, Steele has suffered "persistent severe pain".
Judge Edward Bailey last year ruled the Home Office had been negligent in failing to give him the dental treatment he needed and awarded him £66,400 damages, including about £250 for every week of toothache he endured.
Lady Justice Smith, sitting in the appeal court, said it was "a bad case involving persistent severe pain over nearly four years, together with more moderate pain for two years and some significant deterioration in the general condition of his teeth".
She reduced his original damages to £25,000 and with interest and £16,000 for Steele's "pecuniary loss", the total payout comes to £44,500.
Steele represented himself after his legal aid was withdrawn.
This article is courtesy of BBC News.
Michael Steele was jailed for the triple murder of Patrick Tate, Anthony Tucker and Craig Rolfe in 1998.
Last year he was awarded £66,400 in damages.
Appeal Court judges on Friday rejected the Home Office's appeal against negligence findings, but reduced Steele's payout to £44,500.
Steele and Jack Whomes were both convicted after the three victims were shot dead in a Range Rover on an isolated farm track in December 1995 in a gangland dispute over drugs.
Mick Steele Steele was jailed in 1998 for the murders of three men
The Appeal Court heard his Steele's fillings fell out at Belmarsh Prison soon after he was given his three life sentences.
Since then, while being moved between high security prisons, Steele has suffered "persistent severe pain".
Judge Edward Bailey last year ruled the Home Office had been negligent in failing to give him the dental treatment he needed and awarded him £66,400 damages, including about £250 for every week of toothache he endured.
Lady Justice Smith, sitting in the appeal court, said it was "a bad case involving persistent severe pain over nearly four years, together with more moderate pain for two years and some significant deterioration in the general condition of his teeth".
She reduced his original damages to £25,000 and with interest and £16,000 for Steele's "pecuniary loss", the total payout comes to £44,500.
Steele represented himself after his legal aid was withdrawn.
This article is courtesy of BBC News.
Tuesday, 14 May 2013
Three confirmed cases of HIV amongst patients after dodgy dentist used rusty instruments and reused needle
fter months of testing hundreds of patients of a Tulsa dentist who is accused of unclean medical practices, results have been revealed that will send a chill through anyone who had sat in the dentists' chair.
The Tulsa Health Department says three patients have tested positive for the HIV virus which causes AIDS, 70 patients have tested positive for hepatitis C and a further four patients have tested positive for hepatitis B.
At one time, it was believed up to 7,000 patients may have been exposed to blood-borne viruses at the clinics of Dr. Scott Harrington in Tulsa and Owasso because he used filthy instruments in their mouths.
So far, 3,796 patients have been tested at Oklahoma health departments across the state.
The department says they will personally contact those who have tested positive for any of the diseases and will offer them and their family counseling.
The department notes the possibility that some that test positive may not be related to the dental procedures at the Harrington practice.
'This is a complex investigation,' emphasized State Epidemiologist Dr. Kristy Bradley.
Health officials opened their investigation into Harrington's surgeries after a patient with no known risk factors tested positive for both hepatitis C and HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. It turned out the person was a patient of Harrington's and had recently had a dental procedure at one of his clinics.
On one occasion authorities launched a surprise inspection at his practice on March 18 that turned up old needles, rusty instruments and a practice of pouring bleach on patients' wounds, until they 'turned white,' according to a complaint filed by the Oklahoma Board of Dentistry.
While testing for HIV and hepatitis continues among former patients of Harrington, the criminal investigation continues with the involvement of both state and federal authorities.
Tulsa County District Attorney Tim Harris has released a statement regarding the allegations against Harrington by the Oklahoma Board of Dentistry.
The state dental board filed a 17-count complaint calling Harrington "a menace to the public health.'
Among the allegations, Harrington allowed dental assistants to administer IV sedation and reused equipment on multiple patients.
It is improper sterilization procedures such as this that could have infected many of his patients with any number of blood-borne viruses.
Among the claims was one detailing the use of rusty instruments in patients known to have infectious diseases that were dipped twice in bleach in hope of cleaning them.
‘The CDC has determined that rusted instruments are porous and cannot be properly sterilized,’ the board said of that practice.
Harrington told officials he left questions about sterilization and drug procedures to his employees.
‘They take care of that, I don't,’ the dentistry board quoted him as saying.
'The goal is to do a thorough investigation and then make some common sense decisions on potential criminal charges and which agency is in the best position to prosecute any case,' Harris said.
Based on the number of individuals to be interviewed and the involvement of both federal and state investigators, Harris says the investigation is likely to be a long one.
'Once an investigation is complete, the case will be reviewed for potential criminal charges.'
Health inspectors found expired morphine and dirty, rusty instruments that were used on patients with infectious diseases inside an Oklahoma dental clinic, putting thousands of people at risk for hepatitis and the virus that causes AIDS.
Health officials opened their investigation after a patient with no known risk factors tested positive for both hepatitis C and HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. After determining the 'index patient' had a dental procedure about the likely time of exposure, investigators visited Harrington's office and found a number of unsafe practices, state epidemiologist Kristy Bradley said.
Inspectors allege workers at his two clinics risked cross-contamination to the point that the state Dentistry Board branded Harrington a 'menace to the public health.'
According to the insepctors' complaint, needles were re-inserted in drug vials after their initial use and the office had no written infection-protection procedure.
Harrington told officials he left questions about sterilization and drug procedures to his employees.
'They take care of that, I don't,' the dentistry board quoted him as saying.
The doctor also is accused of letting his assistants perform tasks only a licensed dentist should have done, including administering IV sedation. The complaint says the doctor's staff could not produce permits for the assistants when asked.
Susan Rogers, executive director of the state Dentistry Board, said that as an oral surgeon Harrington regularly did invasive procedures involving 'pulling teeth, open wounds, open blood vessels.' The board's complaint also noted Harrington and his staff told investigators a 'high population of known infectious disease carrier patients' received dental care from him.
Despite the high-risk clientele, a device used to sterilize instruments wasn't being properly used and hadn't been tested in six years, the board complaint said. Tests are required monthly.
Also, a drug vial found at a clinic this year had an expiration date of 1993 and one assistant's drug log said morphine had been used in the clinic last year despite its not receiving any morphine shipments since 2009.
'The office looked clean,' said Joyce Baylor, who had a tooth pulled at Harrington's Tulsa office 1½ years ago. In an interview, Baylor, 69, said she'll be tested next week to determine whether she contracted any infection.
'I'm sure he's not suffering financially that he can't afford instruments,' Baylor said of Harrington.
Harrington voluntarily gave up his license, closed his offices in Tulsa and suburban Owasso, and is cooperating with investigators, said Kaitlin Snider, a spokeswoman for the Tulsa Health Department.
'It's uncertain how long those practices have been in place,' Snider said. 'He's been practicing for 36 years.'
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is consulting on the case, and agency spokeswoman Abbigail Tumpey said such situations involving dental clinics are rare.
Last year a Colorado oral surgeon was accused of reusing needles and syringes, prompting letters to 8,000 patients, Tumpey said. It wasn't clear whether anyone was actually infected.
'We've only had a handful of dental facilities where we've had notifications in the last decade,' Tumpey said.
The Oklahoma Dentistry Board lodged a 17-count complaint against Harrington, saying he was a 'menace to the public health by reasons of practicing dentistry in an unsafe or unsanitary manner.' Among the claims was one detailing the use of rusty instruments in patients known to have infectious diseases.
'The CDC has determined that rusted instruments are porous and cannot be properly sterilized,' the board said.
Health officials sent letters to 7,000 known patients but cautioned that they don't know who visited his clinics before 2007. The letters urged the patients to be tested for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV — viruses typically spread through intravenous drug use or unprotected sex, not occupational settings.
This article is courtesy of the Mail Online.
The Tulsa Health Department says three patients have tested positive for the HIV virus which causes AIDS, 70 patients have tested positive for hepatitis C and a further four patients have tested positive for hepatitis B.
At one time, it was believed up to 7,000 patients may have been exposed to blood-borne viruses at the clinics of Dr. Scott Harrington in Tulsa and Owasso because he used filthy instruments in their mouths.
So far, 3,796 patients have been tested at Oklahoma health departments across the state.
The department says they will personally contact those who have tested positive for any of the diseases and will offer them and their family counseling.
The department notes the possibility that some that test positive may not be related to the dental procedures at the Harrington practice.
'This is a complex investigation,' emphasized State Epidemiologist Dr. Kristy Bradley.
Health officials opened their investigation into Harrington's surgeries after a patient with no known risk factors tested positive for both hepatitis C and HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. It turned out the person was a patient of Harrington's and had recently had a dental procedure at one of his clinics.
On one occasion authorities launched a surprise inspection at his practice on March 18 that turned up old needles, rusty instruments and a practice of pouring bleach on patients' wounds, until they 'turned white,' according to a complaint filed by the Oklahoma Board of Dentistry.
While testing for HIV and hepatitis continues among former patients of Harrington, the criminal investigation continues with the involvement of both state and federal authorities.
Tulsa County District Attorney Tim Harris has released a statement regarding the allegations against Harrington by the Oklahoma Board of Dentistry.
The state dental board filed a 17-count complaint calling Harrington "a menace to the public health.'
Among the allegations, Harrington allowed dental assistants to administer IV sedation and reused equipment on multiple patients.
It is improper sterilization procedures such as this that could have infected many of his patients with any number of blood-borne viruses.
Among the claims was one detailing the use of rusty instruments in patients known to have infectious diseases that were dipped twice in bleach in hope of cleaning them.
‘The CDC has determined that rusted instruments are porous and cannot be properly sterilized,’ the board said of that practice.
Harrington told officials he left questions about sterilization and drug procedures to his employees.
‘They take care of that, I don't,’ the dentistry board quoted him as saying.
'The goal is to do a thorough investigation and then make some common sense decisions on potential criminal charges and which agency is in the best position to prosecute any case,' Harris said.
Based on the number of individuals to be interviewed and the involvement of both federal and state investigators, Harris says the investigation is likely to be a long one.
'Once an investigation is complete, the case will be reviewed for potential criminal charges.'
Health inspectors found expired morphine and dirty, rusty instruments that were used on patients with infectious diseases inside an Oklahoma dental clinic, putting thousands of people at risk for hepatitis and the virus that causes AIDS.
Health officials opened their investigation after a patient with no known risk factors tested positive for both hepatitis C and HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. After determining the 'index patient' had a dental procedure about the likely time of exposure, investigators visited Harrington's office and found a number of unsafe practices, state epidemiologist Kristy Bradley said.
Inspectors allege workers at his two clinics risked cross-contamination to the point that the state Dentistry Board branded Harrington a 'menace to the public health.'
According to the insepctors' complaint, needles were re-inserted in drug vials after their initial use and the office had no written infection-protection procedure.
Harrington told officials he left questions about sterilization and drug procedures to his employees.
'They take care of that, I don't,' the dentistry board quoted him as saying.
The doctor also is accused of letting his assistants perform tasks only a licensed dentist should have done, including administering IV sedation. The complaint says the doctor's staff could not produce permits for the assistants when asked.
Susan Rogers, executive director of the state Dentistry Board, said that as an oral surgeon Harrington regularly did invasive procedures involving 'pulling teeth, open wounds, open blood vessels.' The board's complaint also noted Harrington and his staff told investigators a 'high population of known infectious disease carrier patients' received dental care from him.
Despite the high-risk clientele, a device used to sterilize instruments wasn't being properly used and hadn't been tested in six years, the board complaint said. Tests are required monthly.
Also, a drug vial found at a clinic this year had an expiration date of 1993 and one assistant's drug log said morphine had been used in the clinic last year despite its not receiving any morphine shipments since 2009.
'The office looked clean,' said Joyce Baylor, who had a tooth pulled at Harrington's Tulsa office 1½ years ago. In an interview, Baylor, 69, said she'll be tested next week to determine whether she contracted any infection.
'I'm sure he's not suffering financially that he can't afford instruments,' Baylor said of Harrington.
Harrington voluntarily gave up his license, closed his offices in Tulsa and suburban Owasso, and is cooperating with investigators, said Kaitlin Snider, a spokeswoman for the Tulsa Health Department.
'It's uncertain how long those practices have been in place,' Snider said. 'He's been practicing for 36 years.'
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is consulting on the case, and agency spokeswoman Abbigail Tumpey said such situations involving dental clinics are rare.
Last year a Colorado oral surgeon was accused of reusing needles and syringes, prompting letters to 8,000 patients, Tumpey said. It wasn't clear whether anyone was actually infected.
'We've only had a handful of dental facilities where we've had notifications in the last decade,' Tumpey said.
The Oklahoma Dentistry Board lodged a 17-count complaint against Harrington, saying he was a 'menace to the public health by reasons of practicing dentistry in an unsafe or unsanitary manner.' Among the claims was one detailing the use of rusty instruments in patients known to have infectious diseases.
'The CDC has determined that rusted instruments are porous and cannot be properly sterilized,' the board said.
Health officials sent letters to 7,000 known patients but cautioned that they don't know who visited his clinics before 2007. The letters urged the patients to be tested for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV — viruses typically spread through intravenous drug use or unprotected sex, not occupational settings.
This article is courtesy of the Mail Online.
Sunday, 21 April 2013
Patient wins £7k settlement for Gossops Green dentist's negligence
A patient has been awarded £7,000 in an out-of-court settlement against her dentist, with her case of misaligned teeth called the "most severe" ever seen by a specialist.
Heather Turner sued Dr William Clinton, from The Dental Surgery on Gossops Drive, Gossops Green, after he failed to refer her for corrective orthodontic treatment and to address her gum disease.
Ms Turner, from Ifield, said: "I had an accident as a child and this pushed my teeth back into my mouth. At the time I was told my teeth needed time to settle as I was only young, but as I got older and into my teens I wanted something done as I became more embarrassed about my teeth.
"I was advised by Dr Clinton that this wasn't an option. He said I was not entitled to NHS care as I was over 18.
"I had no reason to query this information and did not think there was any danger to my health as my regular six-month check-ups carried on as normal."
However, Ms Turner, 48, started to experience severe bleeding of the gum, especially when she ate.
"It was horrible," she added.
"My gums would bleed so severely, that when I ate a sandwich it would be covered in blood. It was even worse when I went for my check-ups and Mr Clinton would floss and clean my teeth.
"I would have to be wiped down as there was so much blood on my face."
She was only seen by a specialist after she was referred by her GP when, out of the blue, her jaw went into severe spasm – and he immediately realised something was drastically wrong.
Ms Turner said: "He told me this was the most severe case of misaligned teeth he had ever seen. My top teeth were actually digging into my lower gums, causing the bleeding.
"He also indicated that due to the severity of the condition I would have been entitled to NHS care regardless of my age."
Ms Turner was immediately booked in to have her wisdom teeth removed and it took five years to put everything right.
After the initial tooth extraction and bone graft, Ms Turner underwent an intensive course of gum disease treatment to make sure she did not suffer any tooth or bone loss.
She then had to wear braces for two years before undergoing surgery which moved her jaw by eight millimetres to align her teeth, and then had a further year of wearing braces.
Jonathan Owen, Heather's lawyer from the Dental Law Partnership, said: "The delay in referring Heather for specialist treatment has not only resulted in a substantial expense, but a prolonged period of discomfort and misery which was completely avoidable.
"If she had been referred when needed it could have been a simple process to correct her issues."
Dr Clinton did not admit any liability.
In a statement, he said: "I am pleased this case has now been resolved and a settlement has been reached.
"I hope this will go some way towards compensating for the pain and distress the patient has experienced.
"I have always striven to provide the best care for my patients and I am sorry that this has happened."
Last September the News reported on a separate out-of-court settlement for a former patient of Dr Clinton.
Mike Watts, from Maidenbower, was awarded £17,500 due to the extensive tooth decay he had suffered.
This article is courtesy of This is Sussex.
Heather Turner sued Dr William Clinton, from The Dental Surgery on Gossops Drive, Gossops Green, after he failed to refer her for corrective orthodontic treatment and to address her gum disease.
Ms Turner, from Ifield, said: "I had an accident as a child and this pushed my teeth back into my mouth. At the time I was told my teeth needed time to settle as I was only young, but as I got older and into my teens I wanted something done as I became more embarrassed about my teeth.
"I was advised by Dr Clinton that this wasn't an option. He said I was not entitled to NHS care as I was over 18.
"I had no reason to query this information and did not think there was any danger to my health as my regular six-month check-ups carried on as normal."
However, Ms Turner, 48, started to experience severe bleeding of the gum, especially when she ate.
"It was horrible," she added.
"My gums would bleed so severely, that when I ate a sandwich it would be covered in blood. It was even worse when I went for my check-ups and Mr Clinton would floss and clean my teeth.
"I would have to be wiped down as there was so much blood on my face."
She was only seen by a specialist after she was referred by her GP when, out of the blue, her jaw went into severe spasm – and he immediately realised something was drastically wrong.
Ms Turner said: "He told me this was the most severe case of misaligned teeth he had ever seen. My top teeth were actually digging into my lower gums, causing the bleeding.
"He also indicated that due to the severity of the condition I would have been entitled to NHS care regardless of my age."
Ms Turner was immediately booked in to have her wisdom teeth removed and it took five years to put everything right.
After the initial tooth extraction and bone graft, Ms Turner underwent an intensive course of gum disease treatment to make sure she did not suffer any tooth or bone loss.
She then had to wear braces for two years before undergoing surgery which moved her jaw by eight millimetres to align her teeth, and then had a further year of wearing braces.
Jonathan Owen, Heather's lawyer from the Dental Law Partnership, said: "The delay in referring Heather for specialist treatment has not only resulted in a substantial expense, but a prolonged period of discomfort and misery which was completely avoidable.
"If she had been referred when needed it could have been a simple process to correct her issues."
Dr Clinton did not admit any liability.
In a statement, he said: "I am pleased this case has now been resolved and a settlement has been reached.
"I hope this will go some way towards compensating for the pain and distress the patient has experienced.
"I have always striven to provide the best care for my patients and I am sorry that this has happened."
Last September the News reported on a separate out-of-court settlement for a former patient of Dr Clinton.
Mike Watts, from Maidenbower, was awarded £17,500 due to the extensive tooth decay he had suffered.
This article is courtesy of This is Sussex.
Tuesday, 16 April 2013
HIV test urged for 7,000 Oklahoma dental patients
Dental practices of a Tulsa-area oral surgeon are being investigated and health officials warn patients may have been exposed to HIV, hepatitis B and C.
Health officials are urging 7,000 patients of an Oklahoma dentist to be tested for potential exposure to HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.
The possible exposure happened at the dental practice of Dr. W. Scott Harrington in Tulsa, Okla., and Owasso, Okla. Officials are sending letters to 7,000 patients who have visited the facilities since 2007, according to a health department news release.
Records were available only from 2007 through March, so patients who visited Harrington's practice before then were urged to contact health officials.
Harrington, an oral surgeon who has been licensed since the 1970s, surrendered his credentials March 20 and discontinued his practice after investigators discovered alleged health and safety violations. Authorities say he is cooperating.
The health departments noted that transmissions of these diseases in this type of occupational setting are rare. Kristy Bradley, state epidemiologist, stressed that "this is not an outbreak."
The state health department said that HIV and hepatitis B "have been known to be transmitted in the dental setting" but that there is no documentation of hepatitis C infection. The tests are being recommended as a precaution.
According to the Oklahoma Board of Dentistry, the investigation so far has uncovered "numerous violations of health and safety laws and major violations of the state dental act."
Tulsa television station KOTV cites 17 violations:
Charges include: a patient testing positive for HIV and Hepatitis C; the dental practice being unsafe, unsanitary and lacking of sterilization checks; committing gross negligence related to decisions related to the dental health care of patients; practicing dentistry without proper display of licenses and certifications; violation of provisions of the State Dental Act by failure to keep a suitable record of dangerous drugs; unlawful practices in authorizing dental assistants to practice dentistry; and having open vials or medication and unsanitary dental materials in an unclean environment.
Alleged violations include allowing assistants to administer IV sedation, which only a licensed dentist may perform, and keeping incomplete drug logs and expired medications, the Tulsa World reported. Inspectors found an unlocked, disorganized drug cabinet with a vial that had expired in 1993.
Susan Rogers, the executive director of the dental board, called the allegations "very, very unusual." She told KOTV that Harrington handled a high volume of patients with hepatitis or HIV. She said Harrington had no previous complaints.
Free testing will be available Saturday and Monday at a Tulsa Health Department clinic. Results were expected within one to two weeks.
This article is courtesy of USA Today.
Health officials are urging 7,000 patients of an Oklahoma dentist to be tested for potential exposure to HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.
The possible exposure happened at the dental practice of Dr. W. Scott Harrington in Tulsa, Okla., and Owasso, Okla. Officials are sending letters to 7,000 patients who have visited the facilities since 2007, according to a health department news release.
Records were available only from 2007 through March, so patients who visited Harrington's practice before then were urged to contact health officials.
Harrington, an oral surgeon who has been licensed since the 1970s, surrendered his credentials March 20 and discontinued his practice after investigators discovered alleged health and safety violations. Authorities say he is cooperating.
The health departments noted that transmissions of these diseases in this type of occupational setting are rare. Kristy Bradley, state epidemiologist, stressed that "this is not an outbreak."
The state health department said that HIV and hepatitis B "have been known to be transmitted in the dental setting" but that there is no documentation of hepatitis C infection. The tests are being recommended as a precaution.
According to the Oklahoma Board of Dentistry, the investigation so far has uncovered "numerous violations of health and safety laws and major violations of the state dental act."
Tulsa television station KOTV cites 17 violations:
Charges include: a patient testing positive for HIV and Hepatitis C; the dental practice being unsafe, unsanitary and lacking of sterilization checks; committing gross negligence related to decisions related to the dental health care of patients; practicing dentistry without proper display of licenses and certifications; violation of provisions of the State Dental Act by failure to keep a suitable record of dangerous drugs; unlawful practices in authorizing dental assistants to practice dentistry; and having open vials or medication and unsanitary dental materials in an unclean environment.
Alleged violations include allowing assistants to administer IV sedation, which only a licensed dentist may perform, and keeping incomplete drug logs and expired medications, the Tulsa World reported. Inspectors found an unlocked, disorganized drug cabinet with a vial that had expired in 1993.
Susan Rogers, the executive director of the dental board, called the allegations "very, very unusual." She told KOTV that Harrington handled a high volume of patients with hepatitis or HIV. She said Harrington had no previous complaints.
Free testing will be available Saturday and Monday at a Tulsa Health Department clinic. Results were expected within one to two weeks.
This article is courtesy of USA Today.
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