A jury in South Carolina has returned a hefty verdict in the dental malpractice case of 28 year old Elizabeth Smith, whose dentist mistakenly pulled 13 extra teeth from her upper jaw.
In a case of shocking negligence, Ms. Smith sought treatment at the Sexton Dental Clinic for a cracked tooth. It was determined that she would need to have three teeth removed to correct the problem. For some reason, however, the dentist who performed the procedure instead pulled all 16 of Smith’s upper teeth leaving her horribly damaged.
In addition to the physical damages the plaintiff suffered, her lawsuit also claimed that after the botched procedure, her dentist then falsified her records in an attempt to cover up what had happened.
Ms. Smith was clearly the victim of gross negligence and the jury agreed, awarding her $2 million in compensation.
Malpractice comes in many forms, including that which occurs in dental care. Just like medical doctors, dentists have the duty to provide their patients with quality care. If you have had a bad experience with a dentist that resulted in your suffering injury or harm, speak to a medical attorney to find out if you’ve been a victim of dental malpractice and what your rights are.
Source: www.justicenewsflash.com
