Dentist In Tulsa Accused Of Using Unfit Dental Equipment
A dentist in Tulsa has been accused of using dirty dental implements and needles after a bout of hepatitis C broke out amongst his dental patients.
Dr W Scott Harrington’s dental practice was forced to shut in March of this year, after a unannounced inspection revealed lax sterility practises. So far 89 of Harrington’s patients have been tested and proved hepatitis C positive.
The findings are the first of their kind in the US, with no other dental practice having been found to cause hepatitis C, with dental clinic generally must abide by strict rules in regards to sterilisation of equipment.
It is alleged that Harrington often re-used needles, which then contaminated the drugs held at the practice and helped to spread the disease to other patients. One complaint filed by the Oklahoma Board of Dentistry referred to a separate box of tools Harrington kept, which he used for the treatment of patients he knew to carry infectious diseases. These tools were found to have rusted spots and blemishes, which is an indication that could not be properly cleaned and sterilized.
Over 7,000 patients from the two clinics Harrington worked at (Tulsa and Owasso) received letters at the end of March, which gave instructions onto how to obtain a blood test and the risks the infection carried. 4,202 people obtained tests, with 89 testing positive for hepatitis C, five for hepatitis B and four were found to be positive for HIV. A number of patients also received testing from private clinics. Some questions have been raised about whether the cases of hepatitis B derived from the practice and further testing into the HIV cases is ongoing.
The original inspection was prompted by a patient who had tested positive for hepatitis C and HIV, who did not have any of the usual risk factors. Others also claimed that Harrington would treat patient’s wounds with bleached until they ‘turned white’.
The cost of the investigation has so far cost local, state and federal funds $710,000.
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