A former patient of Scott Harrington, the Tulsa dentist currently under investigation by the Oklahoma Board of Dentistry, has filed a lawsuit against the doctor, claiming medical negligence. It is the first lawsuit since investigators first said that Harrington may have exposed as many as 7,000 patients to HIV and hepatitis because of improper sterilization techniques and other health and safety violations. If you believe you have been adversely affected by a doctor’s negligence or medical malpractice, consult our knowledgeable attorneys at AMA Law for legal help. You may have grounds to file a lawsuit against the allegedly negligent doctor, in order to pursue financial compensation for your injuries.
MEDICAL PROBLEMS SUFFERED BY PLAINTIFF
The plaintiff in the negligence lawsuit knows she is virus-free, but claims she still suffered unnecessary harm at the hand of the Oklahoma dentist. Harrington removed the plaintiff’s wisdom teeth in 2009, and, according to the lawsuit, she developed serious complications, including an infection, high fever, rash and liver problems, in the weeks after the procedure. “She did receive an infection, because of the improper sterilization techniques,” said an attorney for the plaintiff. “Thank goodness, it wasn’t one of the more dreaded things, like hepatitis or HIV.”
VIOLATIONS TURNED UP DURING INVESTIGATION
In the complaint, the plaintiff says she had no reason to believe Harrington had done anything wrong until a few weeks ago, when the Oklahoma Board of Dentistry says it found numerous problems in the dentist’s practice, including sterilization violations, dental assistants illegally performing IV sedation and other duties, and evidence of patients being treated out of the same medicine vial. “We have a situation here, where the normal safeguards which are in place when people go to dentists and oral surgeons failed a large number of people,” said the plaintiff’s attorney.
OUR EXPERIENCED ATTORNEYS CAN HELP
In the midst of the board’s investigation, more than 2,200 former patients of Harrington have been tested for HIV and hepatitis, and the plaintiff’s attorney says that, even though the plaintiff tested negative for these diseases, she is suing because of infection control and sterilization problems. “Without these kinds of lawsuits, people will never know whether or not the safety rules were really breached,” said the lawyer. If you have suffered a serious complication that you believe to be related to the negligence of a doctor or hospital, contact our qualified lawyers at AMA Law today. With our attorneys on your side, you can seek fair and timely reimbursement for your injuries by filing a lawsuit against the allegedly negligent person or party.