According to the Vancouver Sun, a B.C. dentist is facing severe disciplinary actions through the College of Dental Surgeons of British Columbia and potentially several medical malpractice suits as a result of several allegations of misconduct. The College is conducting hearings concerning 29 findings of incompetent practice and four instances of professional misconduct in the case of Dr. Derek Duvall. Dr. Duvall accumulated these charges while working in several B.C. communities practicing dentistry in 2006, 2007, and 2009. Four other allegations were dismissed by the panel.
Allegations of Medical Malpractice against Dr. Duvall
Some of the allegations brought against Dr. Duval include:
- Removal of teeth from a patient without informed consent
- Failure to warn one patient of a serious dental condition
- Repeated botched root canals and crown placements
- Permanent cementation of a damaged bridge to a patient’s teeth
- Extraction of 11 teeth from one patient without providing that patient with proper information
- Placing an unnecessary crown
- Substandard dental placement of crowns, dentures, restorations, veneers, and root canals
- Failure to properly consult with an orthodontist before extracting four adult pre-molars from a patient and failure to have advise that patient of the need to consult with an orthodontist for subsequent dental work. The risk of this procedure was that without orthodontic follow-up treatment the patient could suffer permanent collapse of his or her facial profile.
So far, Dr. Duvall’s registration has lapsed, and he will not be allowed to reapply for his dental registration until he completes a dental program at a recognized dental institution and passed written board exams. The panel also asked that Duvall be removed from the dental register and want Duvall to be required to pay $95,000.00 in costs.
If You Have Suffered Injury Due to the Negligence of a Doctor, Dentist, or Other Healthcare Provider, Contact a Medical Malpractice Lawyer to Learn About Your Options
Dentists, just like other healthcare professionals, have a responsibility to cause no harm to patients. And, when a dentist is negligent and does cause harm to a patient, he or she can be sued for medical malpractice. Disciplinary actions, while appropriate for such negligence, don’t help victims who have already suffered injury. Thus, one option to assist a medical malpractice victim is through the filing of a lawsuit against the doctor or healthcare provider who caused the injury. If you have been injured as a result of the negligence of your doctor, dentist, or healthcare provider, contact an experienced medical malpractice lawyer to see what options you might have to obtain much needed financial assistance for the expenses incurred as a result. A medical malpractice lawyer can assist you in learning what your rights are, determine if you have a case, and represent you.
