U.S. dentist faces proceedings as patients possibly exposed to hepatitis, HIV

A dentist at the Tomah Veterans Affairs Medical Center in the mid-west U.S. state of Wisconsin is facing administrative proceedings for violating regulations and possibly exposing patients to diseases like AIDS, local media reported.

A review board would question the dentist on Monday, while the responsible medical center has been providing free blood tests and other necessary assistance for the 592 veterans treated by the dentist since his employment from last October.

These patients might be infected with hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or HIV as the doctor repeatedly used his own medical tools instead of sterile and disposable equipment during dental treatment, the medical center said.

It added that the unnamed dentist has handed in resignation just one business day before a review board could be held to investigate his services.

"Although we cannot prevent the dentist from resigning while administrative actions are pending, we are continuing reporting procedures to the state licensing board and the National Practitioner Data Bank," said the center's acting medical director Victoria Brahm.

"We will not stop doing all we can to ensure those responsible for this serious breach of patient trust are held accountable," local newspaper Milwaukee Journal Sentinel quoted Brahm as saying.

The center on Tuesday started notifying the veterans of their possible exposure, after a fill-in assistant reported to the administration on the dentist's breach of regulations, which was described by Brahm as a "purposeful" act.

The center explained that the actual risk of infection is low, promising free treatment if veterans' test results are positive. It also started improving operations and medical practices, according to Brahm.

The medical center has already been accused of improper treatment in recent years, as allegations said doctors there over prescribe painkillers to patients, according to WEAU News. Endi