Mistakes are meant to be corrected, but some mistakes have the corresponding consequence that needs to be faced head-on. Negligence and abandonment may be a simple case to others but to dentists, it is not. Such issues could lead to license suspension or revocation if not face right away with the help of a dental attorney.
A dentist in Grand Prairie, Texas was disciplined. The incidents happened on or about March 20, 2019, the Board of Dental received a consumer complaint from a patient on behalf of her spouse, who is 74 years old, was a patient of the dentist. The complaint stated that the patient’s spouse visited the dentist for a full examination and treatment. The dentist told the souse that he needed extensive dental work, and it could be financed through a Lending Club for $10,575.00. The spouse of the patient proceeded with the lending process, and $10,575.00 was credited directly to the dentist upfront.
From approximately July 17, 2018, through November 9, 2018, the patient had several appointments at the office and referrals to another dental office for possible extractions and root canals. On January 7, 2019, the patient called the office to confirm her cleaning appointment January 8, 2019. She was informed of electrical issues at the office and her appointment was canceled. The patient was unable to reschedule any appointments. Her calls and voice mails were not returned. The patient and his spouse went to the office and discovered it was closed with an eviction notice at the door. Later, the office phone number was disconnected and the dentist’s name was removed from the building. The spouse was not notified that the office had closed. The spouse alleged abandonment and requested a refund of the financed money for the work that was not performed, which they estimated to be approximately $9,300.00. They filed a suit in small claims court and in January 2020, they received $9,400.00 from the dentist.
The Board’s investigator contacted the dentist. The dentist provided incomplete and unclear records of the patient including a treatment plan, consent forms, alternative treatment options, the financial agreement and insurance coverage, and the financial ledger. Based on the records, the dentist did not perform a thorough dental examination.
The claim filed includes the issue of negligence and abandonment and the incident above became the cause of the dentist’s discipline. The decision of the Board was based on the evidence and information gathered during the investigations. The dentist could have prevented or avoided such result if the dentist could have hired help from a dental attorney.
It’s best to seek the assistance of a good dental attorney as it could make the case better in your favor. Be sure to find a dental attorney who’s experienced and knowledgeable in several cases to ensure the best assistance possible.
If you also received a complaint regarding a case or complaint filed on you, you should hire a dental attorney immediately before it’s too late. Texas dental attorney Yong J. An is one of those dedicated dental lawyers who helped various dentists in their cases since 2006. You may contact him 24/7 at (832) 428-5679 for more information or if you want to schedule a private consultation.