Most Houston area residents visit the dentist at least once a year. Dentists are important in making sure their patient’s oral health needs are being met and to keep their patient’s mouths healthy. Most dentists are professionals and offer exceptional care, but occasionally a dentist or an oral surgeon will cause serious injury to their patient.
Several patients have suffered from serious heart infections that have been linked to their oral surgeon. At least 15 of the oral surgeon’s patients suffered from a serious infection because the oral surgeon deviated from infection control standards. The oral surgeon had several violations in his office which included not using sterile water during surgical procedures, improper handling of medication vials, not properly sterilizing his dental instruments, and not disposing syringes correctly. One of the dentist’s patients died because of the infection and others are still suffering because of the heart infection.
No one expects to receive a serious injury when they go to the dentist. Dentists are trained in proper sterilization and infection control methods, but when they take shortcuts patients can suffer. If a patient believes they have been unexpectedly injured by their dentist, they may want to speak with a legal professional skilled in medical malpractice. An attorney can review medical records and help their client figure out what happened to them. Compensation may be available for medical expenses, future medical expenses, pain and suffering and other damages.
When a doctor or dentist makes a serious mistake that causes injury to their patient the patient has the legal right to hold them accountable. It is important that these doctors are held responsible so that they don’t harm anyone else.
Source: washingtonpost.com, “After 15 heart infection cases and one death, officials found a link: Their oral surgeon“, Sarah Larimer, Sept. 3, 2016
