Re: The Battle against a local dentist

I chose to respond to this specific reply for a reason. Yes, I, too,
have had (all my life, in fact) received Nitrous Oxide from my dentist;
but, before he adminsters the gas, he always ensures that I have
someone to take me home. He does this with all of his patients, and,
having more than 12 years experience as a health care provider myself
(i.e., treating my own patients, etc., but not as a dentist), it only
makes sense that this question is addressed.

However, during my wife's experience, because she underwent a procedure
that included the extraction of 17 teeth, she underwent more Nitrous
than is typical for a normal procedure -- the dentist had to ensure
that she was "unaware of her enviornment," but yet conscious. Following
the delivery of the gas, she had a five minute period of oxygen; I then
brought up the issue of calling a cab (I don't drive) as opposed to
allowing my wife to drive. Since that time, I have spoken with the
Board of Dentistry in the state of Florida as well as two colleagues of
mine who happen to be dentists -- and in all three instances, they all
agreed that taking such a precaution is more typical of a normal
protocol -- or, better put, the rule rather than the exception.

But, although most, if not all respondents have declared my posts to
have no merit, I pose a question: what motive would I have in posting
such information? I was merely addressing an issue and asking if, for
example, another person experienced a "likened" experience, would
taking the issue to the press be appropriate?

I just wish that some of those who seem to have a problem believing the
story were "around" for the twenty-four hour period when my wife could
not talk, swallow or eat anything -- as she looked as if she had golf
balls in her mouth.

But, at this point, the issue is mute. I just learned yesterday that
another person went through a similar experience with the same dentist
in 2005; she ended up receiving a complete refund of the "out-of-pocket
expenses," and the dentist was ordered to take eight courses of CME
(that is, Continued Medical Education) before taking upon any other
patients for dentures. However, he actually treated my wife during that
"window" of "inopportunity" when he was under sanction. So, I will
permit the wheels of justice to turn, as they will.

I would assume that most (or all) of the aforementioned respondents may
not also agree with such statistics that indicate a 50 percent failure
rate in some of the most rural hospitals in the states when it comes to
battling infectious diseases and surgical procedures....

mea305
Billzz wrote:
"mea305" <mea305@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1157847062.076153.24340@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hi Larry:

There is "nothing" in the story that is close to be fabricated! There
was my wife, sitting in a chair (along with about 50 to 75 other people
in the area who have chosen to bring their case to the court); because
of the lawyer's intervention -- and that fact that, according to state
law, one has to first notify the defendant that he or she is "expected
to return funds" and make the patient "whole." I, too, was dumnfounded
that attorneys were actually allowed in small claims court, but the
judge sided on the Dentist more than one time, and, the attorneys even
wanted my wife to pay for the attorney's expenses! We escaped that
problem!

But, the story is very, very true! We live in the State of Florida --
and the Dentist was trained in South America and then emigrated to the
states. After he made a few errors in a different area (this is all in
retrospect), he moved to Ocala, Florida.

We "sank" more than $7,000.00 into her teeth -- and for the last year,
she has been unable to eat with the dentures. The dentist never even
called to see how she was doing!

We learned later (it was not on the site prior to that time) he has
been cited a number of times and has lost three different mal-practice
suits. In the most recent case, in fact, he was forced to repay the
last patient for all "out of pocket expenses," and prove that he
attended a specific period of CME courses. The problem here is that
while he was treating my wife, his first words were, "This will be a
piece of Cake!" After she was taken off of Nitrous, she was told that
she can drive home -- I don't drive -- and this was met with my
resistance to the point that he convinced my "semi-conscious wife" that
she could drive home. The next day, she told me that she did not recall
even getting into the car! I was scared to the last cell in my body,
having endured five auto accidents in the past, three of which were
near-fatal.

Again, taking this to the press -- would it be appropriate? The story
(well-abbreviated in this case), is certainly true.

Thanks,

Mea305

I'm not Larry but, I also find your story impossible to believe, and your
addition of 50 to 75 other "plaintiffs" in a small claims court makes me
really wonder - and I routinly get Nitrous Oxide in my dentist visits, and
drive home myself, so I really wonder - about you. Anyway, the most
obvious answer in the world is to get an attorney, and sue for damages.


Larry Bud wrote:
mea305 wrote:
Not more than a year ago, my wife endured pain, discomfort and an
ultimate feeling of despair after going through the process of denture
placement by a local dentist. The cost: upwards of $7,000.00 and some
change. After we finally noticed that the dentures were actually a full
two inches larger than her mouth, as well as the fact that the dentures
are actually designed for a man's mouth and not a female's, we took
action.

However, because of the way in which we deal with society, we didn't go
against him with respect to a mal-practice suit; we merely presented
the entire story to the small claims court. My wife was not, however,
even permitted the time to say "anything." The dentist's 'high-priced'
lawyers were able to have the damn thing thrown out.

This sounds all made up. Since when are lawyers allowed into small
claims court? What state is this?


.

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