Legal issues regarding dentistry can effectively place a dental license to revocation, especially if certain legal errors were done during the incident. This is what exactly happened to a Texas dentist after she conducted unprofessional and dishonorable conduct relating to her duties as a dentist.
On or about October 29, 2006 to November 16, 2006, the dentist committed the following actions related to her practice of dentistry:
- Forging of signature to provide a correct legal documentation to the Texas Board of Dental Examiners.
- Altering or changing a legal documents contents related to the practice of dentistry, particularly on the patient’s records.
To be more specific with the incident, the dentist committed the following acts because she wishes to alter a patient’s treatment plan and treatment notes in the chart of one of her patients. This could have resulted in an inaccurate record that may cause incorrect treatment to be done to a patient, regardless of dentist who will assist her in the future.
Such actions are not tolerated by the Texas Board of Dental Examiners. Additionally, she also failed to contact a good dental license lawyer for assistance in defending her case. As a result, the Board decided to revoke her license instead.
The Texas Administrative Code, specifically Chapter 108 provides for the violations:
(1) Criminal conduct–including but not limited to conviction of a misdemeanor involving fraud or a felony under federal law or the law of any state as outlined in Chapter 101 of this title.
(2) Deception or misrepresentation–engages in deception or misrepresentation:
(A) in soliciting or obtaining patronage; or
(B) in obtaining a fee.
(3) Fraud in obtaining a license–obtains a license by fraud or misrepresentation or participates in a conspiracy to procure a license, registration, or certification for an unqualified person.
(4) Misconduct involving drugs or alcohol–actions or conduct that include, but are not limited to:
(A) providing dental services to a patient while the licensee is impaired through the use of drugs, narcotics, or alcohol;
(B) addicted to or habitually intemperate in the use of alcoholic beverages or drugs;
(C) improperly obtained, possessed, or used habit-forming drugs or narcotics including self-prescription of drugs;
(D) grossly over prescribes, dispenses, or administers narcotic drugs, dangerous drugs, or controlled substances;
(E) prescribes, dispenses, or administers narcotic drugs, dangerous drugs, or controlled substances to or for a person who is not his or her dental patient; or
(F) prescribes, dispenses, or administers narcotic drugs, dangerous drugs, or controlled substances to a person for a non-dental purpose, whether or not the person is a dental patient.
(5) Assisting another in engaging in the unauthorized practice of dentistry or dental hygiene–holds a dental license and employs, permits, or has employed or permitted a person not licensed to practice dentistry to practice dentistry in an office of the dentist that is under the dentist’s control or management.
(6) Failure to comply with applicable laws, rules, regulations, and orders or remedial plans–violates or refuses to comply with a law relating to the regulation of dentists, dental hygienists, or dental assistants; fails to cooperate with a Board investigation; or fails to comply with the terms of a Board Order or remedial plan.
(7) Inability to practice safely–is physically or mentally incapable of practicing in a manner that is safe for the person’s dental patients.
(8) Discipline of a licensee by another state board–holds a license or certificate to practice dentistry or dental hygiene in another state and the examining board of that state:
(A) reprimands the person;
(B) suspends or revokes the person’s license or certificate or places the person on probation; or
(C) imposes another restriction on the person’s practice.
(9) Failure to comply with Medicaid, insurance, or other regulatory laws–knowingly provides or agrees to provide dental care in a manner that violates a federal or state law that:
(A) regulates a plan to provide, arrange for, pay for, or reimburse any part of the cost of dental care services; or
(B) regulates the business of insurance.
(10) Improper delegation–improperly delegates any task to any individual who is not permitted to perform the task by law, this chapter, or practice restrictions imposed by Board Order.
(11) Unprofessional conduct–engages in conduct that has become established through professional experience as likely to disgrace, degrade, or bring discredit upon the licensee or the dental profession.
If you happen to encounter such cases or the incident that happened to the Texas dentist, it’s always best to hire someone experienced to dentist-related cases. Dental License Attorney Yong J. An is an experienced professional in the field for over 14 years. He will be glad to assist you once you contact him at (832) 428-5679.