Re: WrongedPatient Interested inSuitSpeaks...

From: Jeffrey Krantz DDS (drref33_at_verizon.net)
Date: 06/17/04 

Date: Thu, 17 Jun 2004 18:54:38 GMT

By the way, did you ever pay him??
Reason I ask is I had a deadbeat who owed our office money and accused my
associate of sexual harrassment. The poor kid got taken to Office of the
professions where they actually threw the case out, apologized to the kid,
and realized that all she was doing was trying to beat a bill.
"Williams" <ukphrt4@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:ed2a15f7.0406151203.131bd1d5@posting.google.com...
> > Quite apart from the apparent negligence and insensitivity, there is
> > some issue of battery (unwanted contact). This is a gray area because
> > it is not beyond conjecture as to how explicit your objection was.
> > I don't know that you wish to retain a lawyer--dental cases are
> > difficult, and since they are generally taken on contingency it is
> > likely not worth the effort. But the possibility that there is a sexual
> > angle to this casts the episode in a somewhat different light. Does the
> > HMO know about this, or just that your dentistry was reported as
> > substandard by another dentist?
> >
> > Steve
>
> I am glad you brought this serious subject up because I am trying to
> prepare a statement which will be included in the grievance case which
> is still open through this coming Friday. If anything, it may support
> another woman's claim someday and that's invaluable to me. When
> something like this happens you can rest assure, it is happening to
> others, and may already be recorded somewhere.
>
> Unwanted contact between boss/employee, doctor/patient, is a very
> delicate subject and I want to make certain I'm understood. I think my
> no-comment reaction to his contact might be classic under the
> circumstances. I am usually highly assertive and yet, while the words
> mulled in my mind, "Please do not touch me like that anymore, I don't
> like it", they just would not come out.
>
> Instead I froze thinking, what if it's just his way of showing
> friendship? What if it has something to do with his being an older
> man from a different generation? (Same as mine, actually) What if I
> insult him? What if, what if?Confused thoughts all woman are familiar
> with, and after all, he had this habit of creeping up behind me and
> hugging my shoulders tightly - only in public. If it happened only in
> private it might be another story. But still, the thought never leaves
> me: it was the way a lover generally acts. Or it could be interpreted
> as the the way a larger person tickles a small child to illicit a
> happy response that isn't genuine at all and actually feels horribly
> uncomfortable to the child. Perhaps it was his condescending method of
> forcing a smile from an unhappy patient. I find this behavior to be
> most unprofessional and inappropriate and I'm positive he would never
> think of treating his male patients in such a condenscending way. He
> should be called on this and I guess I'm the one elected. So be it.
> Williams
>
> Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS <bornfeldmung@dentaltwins.com> wrote in message
news:<2j6qu4FtcmguU1@uni-berlin.de>...
> > Williams wrote:
> >
> > > X-No-archive: yes
> > > I've read all your replies and I wanted to reply to all. I assure you,
> > > I am not a sue-happy slug and except for consulting a divorce lawyer
> > > many years ago, I have never consulted a lawyer for anything else.
> > > Considering my age, that must be a record of some kind. It's more than
> > > just a personality problem - work itself is shoddy.
> > >
> > > When I told my dentist (practicing 30 years - works for dental
> > > company) I wanted a second opinion from another dentist BEFORE he
> > > permanently cemented what I considered a questionable bridge in place,
> > > he became enraged. He had shouted at me in the past, and shown other
> > > odd behaviors unbecoming for a dentist including repeatedly sneaking
> > > up behind me and hugging my shoulders when ever I was at the
> > > appointment desk. (I am a woman) My response was to noticably
> > > freeze-up and back away - a simple gesture anyone with two eyes from
> > > any culture would understand. One more time (I give four chances
> > > first) and I was going to shout loud and clear for everyone in the
> > > office to hear, "Dr.X, please, don't touch me like that again!"
> > >
> > > Dr.X, had a way of tuning me out when ever I complained of inordinate
> > > gum sensitivity in a front anchor-tooth. By the way, just as an aside,
> > > he had forgotten to remove the green cord from that tooth before
> > > putting the temp in place which resulted in a painful infection. (same
> > > tooth as cavity) When the cord finally worked it's way out on it's own
> > > I told the dentist about this and there was no response from him. No
> > > reply, no explanation - not even a nod.
> > >
> > > The 2nd opinion dentist noticed a few things wrong with the bridge and
> > > encouraged me to file a grievance - and get the work redone elsewhere.
> > > The original dentist then said I could have my money back minus the
> > > lab fees. I objected to paying the lab fee because I don't think I
> > > should absorb the dentists mistake - either does the HMO's consulting
> > > dentist.
> > >
> > > The nature of the damage regarding the work has already been been
> > > reported by my HMO's grievance committee's consulting dentist. The
> > > case is pending. I don't know if they will reimburse me for total fees
> > > paid only, or add more to cover the full expenses of the larger work
> > > recommended by the consulting dentist which from the impression he
> > > gave me, arose from the dentists shoddy work.
> > >
> > > Aside of the bridge not fitting well at all, it has a fracture in the
> > > front tooth, and a cavity under that same tooth's post/buildup (Dr.X
> > > did the PB) which may likely result in that tooth's removal. (I will
> > > need an endo opinion to verify what needs to be done.)
> > >
> > > The HMO's consulting DDS doubts that front anchor tooth will be able
> > > to support a bridge any longer, even it if it is saved, and so
> > > recommended a different kind of bridge involving more teeth and a
> > > key-way addition for three back teeth. In all, nine teeth. Very
> > > expensive and chancey. One goes wrong, they all go wrong.
> > >
> > > Someone here mentioned that grievance's are highly stressful. I found
> > > the process to be an enjoyable breeze compared to the unbelieveable
> > > stress I endured from Dr.X's treatment. If $ were no problem, I'd
> > > have walked out the first day he began work - but I'd already paid IN
> > > FULL - green cash. This dentist was the roughest dentist I'd ever been
> > > to. When he began drilling It felt as if I had no shot at all. I was
> > > jumping all over the chair and when I asked him to please go easy, he
> > > continued as before. I have a mouthful of crowns and root canals and
> > > have been down that road many times so I know what I'm saying when I
> > > tell you I felt like I was being beaten up.
> > >
> > > I don't think this man is normal, and seriously wonder if he should
> > > still be practicing? Dr. X's wanting to permanently cement on an
> > > ill-fitting, fractured bridge on an unstable anchor-tooth (with a
> > > cavity) is outragous! AND - if this wasn't enough, his yelling at me
> > > when I said I wanted a second opinion first, convinced me he is off
> > > his rocker and should be stopped. Come on, don't you? Somebody should
> > > confront this guy.
> > > Talk about your Little Shop of Horrors...
> >
> > Quite apart from the apparent negligence and insensitivity, there is
> > some issue of battery (unwanted contact). This is a gray area because
> > it is not beyond conjecture as to how explicit your objection was.
> > I don't know that you wish to retain a lawyer--dental cases are
> > difficult, and since they are generally taken on contingency it is
> > likely not worth the effort. But the possibility that there is a sexual
> > angle to this casts the episode in a somewhat different light. Does the
> > HMO know about this, or just that your dentistry was reported as
> > substandard by another dentist?
> >
> > Steve

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