Dentist With Suspended License Gives Testimony

An Enfield dentist whose license was suspended in April following two medical incidents gave his testimony on Wednesday, Eyewitness News reports.

Dr. Rashmi Patel had his ability to practice revoked by the Connecticut Dental Commission in the spring in part because of the death of a 64-year-old patient, Judy Gan.

Gan arrived for extractions, implants and bone grafts on Feb. 17. She was sedated and worked on, until her vital signs started to deteriorate and her pulse weakened, the station reports.

Patel denied any malpractice, saying, “The profusion was inadequate in her fingers. Readings were false lows.” He suggested that the monitor may not have given accurate readings during the procedure and that a state health expert jumped the gun in recommending he lose his license.

Some assistants told officials Patel took convincing to call 911, though the dentist said Gan didn’t have respiratory issues until after 911 was called.

The dental commission will decide the fate of Patel’s license. He did not have any comments after his Wednesday hearing, and hearings will resume on Oct. 1.

Read the full story at Eyewitness News.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.