-
Governor Demands Answers from Arizona Dental Board
, Doug Ducey, is demanding answers from the Arizona Dental Board after a television report on “fake” dentist anesthesiologist credentials.
Governor Doug Ducey is demanding immediate answers and action from Arizona’s Dental Board after an ABC15 investigation revealed a Valley dentist obtained a general anesthesia permit using documents multiple people and organizations said are fake and fraudulent.
In a letter sent Monday, Ducey directed the board’s executive director, Elaine Hugunin, to respond to his questions by close of business on Wednesday.
“The information and potential risk to his patients and the public over several years is alarming,” Ducey wrote.
RELATED: ABC15 uncovers major questions about Valley dentist’s anesthesia credentials
On July 6, ABC15 revealed that Dr. Pankaj Goyal is accused of using a series of fake degrees, forged signatures, and false documents to obtain a 1301 General Anesthesia Permit from the dental board. The permit is the highest level of anesthesia certification and authorizes Goyal to administer general anesthesia or deep sedation by any means.
Dr. Pankaj Goyal repeatedly refused to answer questions about his anesthesia credentials on the phone and in person.
In a statement, his attorney said allegations about his credentials are “meritless.”
ABC15 also learned Elaine Hugunin directly received multiple warnings from multiple people about Goyal’s credentials beginning in 2014. But she declined to provide information and documentation about what happened with those warnings and declined to answer questions about their vetting of Goyal.
This credentials issue should be fairly easy to resolve.
Now
, whether Elaine Hugunin remains in her position – that is a question.
-
Pennsylvania Dentist Wade Newman on Trial for Rape
‘I know we had sex.’ Wiretaps played at former Bellefonte dentist’s trial
The trial for the former owner of Bellefonte Family Dentistry and president of the Pennsylvania Dental Association accused of kidnapping and raping a patient of 17 years continued on Tuesday.
Wade Newman
, 48, allegedly drove a sedated female patient to a root canal appointment he arranged at State Endodontics in October 2016. Spring Township police said Newman drove the woman back to her residence — although she asked to be driven back to her mother’s residence — after the procedure, which is where the rape allegedly occurred.
Newman is charged with four felonies — rape, criminal attempt at rape, sexual assault and kidnapping — and two misdemeanor counts of indecent assault.
The DNA evidence may prove decisive in this case.
-
The Future of the American Dental Association
Michael W. Davis, DDS has an interesting piece in Dentistry Today about the American Dental Association and its future.
We are fast approaching the five-year anniversary date of the now famous report by Dr. Mike Barr
, “The Inevitable Death of the American Dental Association,” published on The Dental Warrior. This wakeup call was widely discussed by doctors on The Dental Warrior, and also DentalTown.
Read it all.
I have not been a member of the ADA for a number of years, as the California Dental Association increasingly weighed into left-wing California State politics. The mandatory political dues requirement was one of many last straws that forced me out the door – after two decades plus of membership.
Will the ADA survive?
The jury is still out…….