Oops...dentist mistakenly extracts 16 teeth!!

[PCIntern]

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/weird_news/20090821_a...

As a dentist, please let me express my condolences to this lady and this kind of thing is INDEFENSIBLE.

As a matter of course, I ALWAYS ask the patient "what are we taking out here today?" ANY confusion causes me to STOP immediately,and discuss to our MUTUAL SATISFACTION as to what's going to happen
In fact, I generally ask "What are we up to today?" before we start...occasionally, it involves a change of mind or questions about the procedure(s)...all OK in my mind. Anything else constitutes assault and battery upon the person...

[targetpractice]

1. As a dentist... Do you agree with the $2M awarded by the jury?

Just wondering, since malpractice awards are part of the recent healthcare debate.

[PCIntern]

4. Pretty egregious action by the DMD...

Life-changing in the extreme, especially if the 'accidentally' extracted teeth were reasonable periodontally...

I don't know enough about the case specifically to accurately answer the question, but the award isn't surprising...

[Hassin Bin Sober]

7. I wonder how insured the Dr. is? Would one carry 2 million in coverage?

[PCIntern]

9. it's usually 1000000/3000000 for 1 event/all events

but this was a clinic and probably liable as an entity as well...

[HysteryDiagnosis]

6. Now this is a story that I just cannot

sink my teeth into.

[elleng]

2. OOps indeeed!

Husband having surgery some years ago, discussed with dentist who was part of the entire complex proceedure. Dentist either misrepresented or something how many would be extracted, so husb ended up with fewer teeth than expected.

[Selatius]

3. Why would a dentist pull perfectly good teeth? Why is the dentist even practicing at all? nt

[PCIntern]

5. Hoo nose?

Lot of us don't give a shit about the patient...well, maybe not 'a lot', but many...believe me...I can see it happening in certain circumstances.

I wouldn't be so sure that they were in 'perfect' condition, but it doesn't matter, it's a catastrophe of the first order dentally...

[PM Martin]

8. Due to the egregious circumstances

not only do I STRONGLY approve of the two million dollar award, I would also like to
see the Doctor's license pulled. He should not be in this business if he can make such a gross error.
Disgusting the whole way!

[PCIntern]

10. I can almost promise you

that the State Board is involved...BUT, that doesn't mean squat in many instances...

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. You know I have to have a procedure done tomorrow

thanks!

Ok it does not involve extraction, rather preventing that... porcelain to prevent food collecting between two teeth.

I always talk to doctor, and I make sure we are in the same page.

Hell, I know I have a harder mouth to anesthetize, denser bone... and my previous dentist took the time to splain that to me. So tomorrow will make sure I discuss all before things start.

I just hate mouth anesthesia. I don;t mind getting stuck anywhere else... but the mouth, I absolutely hate it.

[PCIntern]

12. You'll be fine I'm sure...

good luck...



On edit: I'm off to bed - I arise at 4:30 AM to get an early start....trying to fill/extract the CORRECT teeth!!!

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. Good night