RI Health Department Issues Public Apology to Cranston Dentist

CRANSTON, RI—A city dentist that was forced to shut his doors for two days after a state Department of Health inspection in 2013 has been exonerated and was offered a formal apology in a remarkable public statement released Thursday.

Dentist Paul Matrullo, who has a practice on Park Avenue, was forced to close his doors for several days in 2013 after an inspection that alleged a variety of sanitary problems and paperwork issues that led to the issuing of an immediate compliance order by the health department.

The order was lifted two days later and no formal findings or violations resulted from the incident.

On Thursday, the health department released a statement that indirectly acknowledged that the department's response to the inspection was overzealous.

"Facts have come to light in a particular case that deserve public acknowledgment and reflection," the statement read. "Specifically, the Department of Health would like to apologize to Dr. Paul Matrullo for the disservice and inconveniences caused to him, his associates, and his patients in connection with the inspection of their dental facility in March 2013 as no formal findings, violations or adverse actions resulted in this matter. In the spirit of cooperation, the parties have mutually agreed to settle all claims, allegations, and pending complaints between them."

The health department said it "Health recognizes that best practices evolve and require a willingness to continually review the standards under which we operate and our expectations for healthcare providers. We are pursuing a cooperative environment between regulators and practitioners that will result in better and more robust public health outcomes for Rhode Islanders."