Israel – According to Israel’s Channel 2 News, a frum 17-year-old girl is under suspicion that she was infected with the AIDS virus two weeks ago after a visit to a frum dentist. The dentist had apparently not sterilized the tools with which a previous patient with AIDS had been treated, resulting in the teenager requiring testing.
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The story began when the dentist treated an AIDS patient at his private Jerusalem practice. That patient had mentioned her health status on a form, but the dentist had not sterilized his tools after treating her, in direct violation of health department regulations.
The dentist perused the form only three days later and was afraid to disclose what had happened. Instead of contacting health authorities and the teen’s parents immediately, he contacted an AIDS expert and learned that a substantial chance of infection existed. He did not inform anyone of the occurrence, thus withholding treatment from the teen.
If the occurrence had been disclosed up to two day after the visit, a treatment to minimize the teen’s chance of infection could have been administered.
The health department reports that the “occurrence in question was not reported. The dentist was contacted and required to inform the teen and her parents of the concern.”
VIN has tragically learned from United Hatzalah of Israel that, while authorities are investigating whether additional patients may have been infected, the dentist in question has been found this morning not alive beneath a truck.
My belief that having government inspectors in our offices and ORs may be in contrast to your opinion but I certainly did not call you ignorant. You CETAINLY have more experience than I do, and I would be foolish to do so.
It would impossible for the government to supervise the 100s of 1000s of doctors practicing throughout the country. Furthermore, as the second medical student (I wonder if I know him…) wrote, WE are the authorities on medical standards, not the civil servants. Based on my experiences in the post office, passport office, etc., I would actually not want them to have ANY position of influence in the day to day administration of medical/dental care. It’s bad enough they gum up the works of everything the government has already involved itself in.
Certainly it is my hope that every healthcare professional is as meticulous as possible in protecting the health and safety of his patients. I would not vouch for every practitioner out there, but I would suggest that people carefully consider which physicians they choose to go to.
I am the Dentist that started all this excitement.
What I am saying is that many Dentists could be more thorough in their sterility precautions if they absolutely knew the previous patient had HIV. The fear of being caught would also help.
The fact that transmission is not often proven nor in the news does not mean it never happens. HIV is not transmitted that easily, Thank G-d.
It is refreshing to be called ignorant by a medical student, still in training and not yet in the real world, yet knows enough about the real world and dental offices to call me ignorant. My original comment was about dental offices, in which I have spent 28 years.
I am confident that at the Medical School and in academia in general you see the best side of the best people. Look around and tell me you can vouch for every one of your classmates actions 20 years from now. The day comes when someone plans a procedure and the last instrument tray falls on the floor. Will you vouch for every health professional out there?
anon 411am
I am an idiot? The isiot is the one who can’t read and understand a simple comment. I never intimated that a doctor should sterilize his instruments. Should the government also stand in every OR in the country and make sure the surgeon cuts in the right place?
Think about it.
anon 411am
I am an idiot? The idiot is the one who cant read and understand my simple point… of course doctors are supposed to sterilize their instruments.
It’s extremely difficult to transmit the aids virus even through blood contact. I think there’s more to this story.
wondering how many times a needle can be injected into pple b4 it is not sharp? also what happens to all the sharps that are disposed of hopefully in the biohazards???
Anon 9:40,
You are an idiot. Sterilizing instruments between patients to prevent the transmission of HSV, hepatitis, and ALOT WORSE is the absolute minimum that a doctor is required to do. The health Dept does not have to sit in your office. Please post your name so I know never to go to you.
This exact case happened in Florida in the late 1980s. A girl named Kimberly Bergalis was infected with AIDS by her Gay Dentist, David Aker, along with 5 other paitents. DNA tracing revealed the exact strain of AIDS and Aker was the only link between the non gay, non risk group.
I too am a medical student.(at an well-known M.D. school in NYC). I think what Anon said makes sense.
First of all, in the university setting there is no “get the government off our backs” mantra. There is a very humanistic approach to medicine in the academic world-which often approaches annoying levels I personally can’t tolerate.
Any medical proffessor I have encountered advocates strong sanitization standards. However, they would hesitate to agree with government intervention as THEY are the skilled medical professionals-not the government. It would impede upon effective and efficient medical care.
Also, this IS an isolated incident. So before any rash proclamations are made, consider the infrequency of this problem. Lastly, remember your limitations, rooted mostly in your ignorance of the world of medicine.
Why do you say he committed suicide? Because he was found under a truck? Is that proof? How rash and immature to jump to conclusions.
People make mistakes. Look at all the deadly car accidents. No matter how careful one is there is always the ‘other guy’. As for me, I don’t trust myself – how can I trust others? May this girl lead a long, healthy life. Today, AIDS patients can live decades longer than 20 years ago. As for the dentist and his family, may they find compassion.
The dentist kept matters quiet?!?! He didn’t inform anyone of the danger?!?!? He maybe hoped that the problem would go away?!?! He didn’t want to embarrass anyone, maybe?
Howcum this theme sounds so familiar?
To Anon 9:40,
What the dentist is saying obviously is that there needs to be some sort of supervision, like here in the good ole USA. Even though these stories happen here it is very uncommon due to the government’s stringent polices. It can’t be a hefker velt esp. where people lives are concerned!
Anon Said
Anonymous said…
Anonymous 753,
Do you want the government in your office dictating your every move and decision as a doctor? Obviously this guy messed up but it sounds like you want the government to watch every move of every doctor- impossible and impractical!
I feel qualified in saying this as I am a medical student who has spent most of his life around physicians.
April 3, 2008 9:40 PM
Guess What? Just because it would be problematic and not pleasant does not mean it would not be right. Right now, a health care provider can reuse non sterile devices and never be caught. I would like to think it could never happen but we have read of cases where it seems to have happened.
Perhaps, being in med school you are surrounded by MD’s with the “get the government off our backs” doctrine. The reality is that some fear of being caught will make the rotten apples more careful. Can you really vouch for every classmate of yours that 20 years from now they will never let things slide?
Anonymous 753,
Do you want the government in your office dictating your every move and decision as a doctor? Obviously this guy messed up but it sounds like you want the government to watch every move of every doctor- impossible and impractical!
I feel qualified in saying this as I am a medical student who has spent most of his life around physicians.
I would not assume that these incidents are rare. For the most part there is little or no Government supervision of the procedures used in a Dental office.
I feel qualified in stating this as I am a practicing DDS.
the dentist committed suicide, r’l
who is he? please tell us, i am afraid now.
I think it is important to disclose the name of this dentist asap for obvious reasons.