Former dental clients angry at infection control lapse

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A local man says he’s “mad, sad and scared” for his family as they prepare to get blood-tested for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV after learning infection protocols weren’t properly followed by a Brantford dentist.

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“I’m so angry,” said Andrew Dukeshire on Thursday.

“We’re supposed to feel safe with our doctors and dentists and now this has put us all at risk.”

Dukeshire’s wife, Pam, and two children, were long-time patients of Dr. George Chan who abruptly closed his St. Paul Avenue dental practice on Nov. 3 last year – the same day Grand Erie Public Health did an investigation into his infection prevention and control procedures and found 15 areas where they were lacking.

Although a report was posted on the GEPH website months ago, the health unit only notified Chan’s former clients over the last few weeks, advising them to go to their own doctors or a walk-in clinic to arrange blood tests for the viruses.

In the meantime, the health unit urged those affected to follow strict safety procedures, including getting no tattos or piercings, using condoms during sex and not sharing personal items like razors, nail clippers, toothbrushes, needles or glucose monitoring devices.

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Pam Dukeshire said she had been a Chan client almost since he began his practice in 1986 and knew he was “old school.”

“He sent a letter to patients in January saying he was retiring. It was very abrupt.”

The couple said they don’t know if Chan – who couldn’t be reached for comment – was retired or stripped of his licence.

But the Royal College of Dental Surgeons still lists Chan in good standing on their website, although the health unit said their investigation has been referred to the regulatory body.

A spokesperson for the RCDSO said it can investigate, even if a dentist is no longer active, but it doesn’t make investigations public until decisions have been made.

The Dukeshires said Chan was well-liked and ran a small operation – often without a hygienist on staff.

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The health unit investigation found dental tools that were being used with multiple patients weren’t being properly cleaned, stored or labelled.

GEPH declined to answer questions about how many former patients of Chan were notified by letter about the need to get blood-tested, whether the agency closed Chan’s office or he voluntarily retired on the day of a GEPH inspection, or why the health unit waited months after the clinic closed to make the patients aware of the potential risk.

Andrew Dukeshire said the demand for dozens of Chan’s patients to get bloodwork – some of them more than once due to the testing window for recent dental work – will put an unnecessary strain on the already burdened healthcare system.

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“I wasn’t even one of his patients, but now this affects me!”

Dukeshire urged any former clients of Chan to follow through with the recommended blood tests.

“This is serious. Go get tested. It’s a slim chance but the last thing you want to do is hurt someone else.”

The Chan case bears a similarity to a situation in Burlington where the health authority there notified people last November of a ‘lapse’ at a clinic where at least 1,000 patients were injected with medication that may have been contaminated by unsterile needles.

All former patients were also advised to get tested for hepatitis B and C and HIV.

One man has sued the clinic after he was confirmed to have hepatitis C, alleging he was injected with an anesthetic with an unsterilized needle.

Patients not reached by letter, or those with questions can contact GEPH at 519-753-4937, ext. 440.

SGamble@postmedia.com

@EXPSGamble

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