Pennsylvania dentist's license suspended; patients urged to get tested for HIV
HARRISBURG, Pa. -- A Pennsylvania dentists license has been temporarily suspended following an investigation into his former practice, the Pennsylvania Department of Health said in a news release Monday.
The Health Department is urging patients of the Center for Family and Specialty Dentistry in Reading who were seen between Dec. 19, 2015, and Oct. 19, 2016, to get tested for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), as well as for hepatitis B and hepatitis C.
A joint investigation by the departments of health and state revealed that Center for Family and Specialty Dentistry patients might be at risk for the diseases after finding that the practice didn't follow proper procedures for cleaning, disinfecting or sterilizing dental devices.
While we havent received reports of hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or HIV from patients, infection control procedures at this practice were inadequate and created the potential for harm, so were recommending patients get tested, Health Secretary Dr. Karen Murphy said in the release. We prefer that patients receive information regarding their health directly from their provider. However, in this case, that did not happen, so weve contacted patients of this practice directly.
Read more: http://www.ajc.com/news/national/pennsylvania-dentist-license-suspended-patients-urged-get-tested-for-hiv/apcqkVmP0eaRZVd1MUD3UM/