A dentist in Oklahoma State of the United States has the risk of contracting HIV or hepatitis virus in approximately 7,000 patients due to the use of unclean instruments. Hundreds of patients who were notified came to the designated medical institutions on March 30 to undergo screening tests for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or HIV.
Patients are in heavy rain waiting for investigation
The Oklahoma Dental Council said that inspectors found a series of problems at the dentist’s Scott Harrington clinic in the northern city of Tulsa and the suburb of Owasso, including improper sterilization and use of medical devices. Expired drugs. The Oklahoma State Department of Health warned on March 28 that 7,000 patients who had been treated at the Harrington Clinic during the past six years were at risk of HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C virus, and they were advised to undergo free screening tests.
On the next day, the health department sent a one-page notification letter to the above-mentioned patients, warning the patient that the bad health situation at the Harrington Clinic triggered a “public health threat.”
According to the authorities’ recommendations, hundreds of patients arrived at the northern district health center in Tulsa on March 30 for inspection and testing. The test is scheduled to begin at 10am on the same day, but many patients arrive early and take heavy rain. Tulsa Health Department said 420 people were tested on that day. Continue the investigation on the morning of April 1.
Authorities issued 17 allegations
According to the 17 allegations issued to Harrington by the Oklahoma Dental Council, inspectors found that a set of instruments used by patients suffering from infectious diseases was rusted and therefore could not be effectively disinfected; the clinic’s autoclave was improperly used, at least 6 Years have not been validated, used needles have been reinserted into vials, expired drugs have been stored in a kit, and sedatives have been given to patients by assistants rather than doctors…
38-year-old Carrie Childress arrived at the inspection agency at 8:30 in the morning. “I can only hope that I am not infected with any virus,” she said. She pulled a tooth 5 months ago at a clinic in Harrington. Patient Orville Marshall said that he had never seen Harrington since he pulled out two wisdom teeth at the clinic in Owasso five years ago. According to him, a nurse gave him intravenous anesthesia, and Harrington was in the clinic. “It’s terrible. It makes you wonder about the whole process, especially where he looks good,” Marshall said. Matt Messina, a consumer consultant and dentist for the American Dental Association, said creating a “safety and hygiene” environment is one of the “essential requirements” for any dental business. “It’s not hard, it’s just going to do it,” he said. Several dental organizations say that the dental industry is expected to spend an average of more than $40,000 per year on equipment, tools, etc. in the dentistry industry. The Oklahoma Dental Council is scheduled to hold a hearing on April 19 to revoke Harrington’s license to practice medicine.
Old friends say it is hard to believe the accusation
One of Harrington’s clinics is located in a busy area of Tulsa, with many taverns and shops, and many surgeons open clinics there. According to the Associated Press, Harrington’s residence is located a few kilometers from the clinic and property records show that it is worth more than US$1 million. Property and tax records show that Harrington also has a residence in a high-consumption neighborhood in Arizona.
Harrietton’s old friend Suzie Horton said she could not believe the allegations against Harrington. In the 1990s, Harrington pulled two teeth for Holden, and Horton’s ex-husband later sold the house to Harrington. “I often go to the dentist so I know what a professional clinic looks like,” Horton said in a telephone interview. “He (Harrington)’s clinic is as professional as any other dentist.”
Horton had not seen Harrington in recent years, but she said that Harrington sent her Christmas cards and garlands every year. “That was a long time ago. I know anything can change, but the kind of people they describe in the news is not the kind of person who will send you greeting cards,” she said.
(Xinhua News Agency for the newspaper feature)
Source: Shenzhen Jingbao
Shenzhen Jingbao January 9, 2008
Post time: Aug-31-2022