Health Department officials in Tulsa, Oklahoma have warned that as many as 7,000 people may have been accidentally infected with HIV, as well as hepatitis B and C, by a local oral surgeon.
Dr. W. Scott Harrington closed his office on March 20 and is
cooperating with investigators after one of his patients contracted
hepatitis B. Health officials sent a letter to 7,000 of his current
and former patients encouraging them to get tested after two visits
to his practice by inspectors found multiple violations.
According to the investigation, Harrington committed a felony by
unlawfully allowing assistants to perform IV sedation, which only a
licensed dentist may do. They also noted other “major
violations.”
Harrington has practiced in the Tulsa area for more than 30 years, according to the Tulsa World.
“I want to stress that this is not an outbreak,” State
Epidemiologist Kristy Bradley said.
Officials stressed that exposure to these diseases in dentistry
is rare, but anyone who has been treated in the offices in question
since 2007 should be tested at one of Tulsa County's free health
clinics.