Dentist's patients lining up for AIDS tests
Source: Agencies |
April 1, 2013, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
LOOKING to find out whether they were exposed to hepatitis or the virus that causes AIDS, hundreds of patients in US state of Oklahoma of an oral surgeon accused of unsanitary practices went to a health clinic.
The patients turned up on Saturday, a day after letters began going out to 7,000 patients who had seen Dr W. Scott Harrington during the past six years, warning them that poor hygiene at his clinics created a public health hazard. The one-page letter provided information on how and where to seek treatment but couldn't explain why Harrington's allegedly unsafe practices went on for so long.
Testing for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and the virus that causes AIDS began at 10am on Saturday, but many people arrived early and stood through torrential downpours. The Tulsa Health Department said 420 people were tested on Saturday at its North Regional Health and Wellness Center. Screenings resume today.
Kari Childress, 38, showed up because she was nervous.
"I just hope I don't have anything," said Childress, who had a tooth extracted at one of Harrington's two clinics five months ago. "You trust and believe in doctors to follow the rules, and that's the scariest part."
Inspectors found a number of problems at the dentist's clinics in Tulsa and suburban Owasso, Oklahoma, according to the state Dentistry Board, which filed a 17-count complaint against Harrington pending an April 19 license revocation hearing.
According to the complaint, needles were reinserted into drug vials after being used on patients, expired drugs were found in a medicine cabinet and dental assistants administered sedatives to patients, rather than the doctor.
One patient, Orville Marshall, said he didn't meet Harrington until after he had two wisdom teeth pulled about five years ago at the Owasso clinic. A nurse inserted the IV for his anesthesia; Harrington was there when Marshall came to.
The patients turned up on Saturday, a day after letters began going out to 7,000 patients who had seen Dr W. Scott Harrington during the past six years, warning them that poor hygiene at his clinics created a public health hazard. The one-page letter provided information on how and where to seek treatment but couldn't explain why Harrington's allegedly unsafe practices went on for so long.
Testing for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and the virus that causes AIDS began at 10am on Saturday, but many people arrived early and stood through torrential downpours. The Tulsa Health Department said 420 people were tested on Saturday at its North Regional Health and Wellness Center. Screenings resume today.
Kari Childress, 38, showed up because she was nervous.
"I just hope I don't have anything," said Childress, who had a tooth extracted at one of Harrington's two clinics five months ago. "You trust and believe in doctors to follow the rules, and that's the scariest part."
Inspectors found a number of problems at the dentist's clinics in Tulsa and suburban Owasso, Oklahoma, according to the state Dentistry Board, which filed a 17-count complaint against Harrington pending an April 19 license revocation hearing.
According to the complaint, needles were reinserted into drug vials after being used on patients, expired drugs were found in a medicine cabinet and dental assistants administered sedatives to patients, rather than the doctor.
One patient, Orville Marshall, said he didn't meet Harrington until after he had two wisdom teeth pulled about five years ago at the Owasso clinic. A nurse inserted the IV for his anesthesia; Harrington was there when Marshall came to.
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