Deaf patient didn’t know she agreed to have 7 teeth removed in Washington, feds say
A deaf patient was unaware she agreed to have seven teeth removed after a Washington dental clinic failed to provide an interpreter, federal prosecutors said.
The woman contacted Dental Specialty Clinic in Des Moines, Washington, for emergency treatment in June 2020 after her dentist said she likely needed to have “her wisdom teeth removed and possibly one other tooth, as well as a possible root canal,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington said in a release Tuesday, Oct. 18.
Though the clinic said there would likely be no sign language interpreter available, it said it would contact her beforehand if that were the case, prosecutors said.
“However, the clinic did not contact her, and when she arrived for treatment, there was no interpreter,” the release said.
Without an interpreter there to help explain the treatment plan, the woman unknowingly agreed to have seven teeth removed, which “caused her significant physical pain and emotional distress,” the release said.
The lawyer representing Dental Specialty Clinic did not return McClatchy News’ request for comment on Tuesday, Oct. 18.
“Effective communication with patients is critical in medical and dental appointments, and auxiliary aids and services are required by law for patients who need them,” U.S. Attorney Nick Brown said in the release.
As part of a settlement, the clinic will pay the woman “$45,000 in compensation for the discrimination she suffered,” the release said.
In addition, the clinic must make improvements to ensure it provides “interpreter services for clients who are deaf,” according to the release.
The dental clinic was ordered to contract out a “qualified interpreter services provider” and train its employees on new policies and procedures, the release said.
The “clinic will provide reports and records” to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for three years to ensure compliance, the release said.
Des Moines is about is about 20 miles northeast of Tacoma.
This story was originally published October 19, 2022 at 11:52 AM with the headline "Deaf patient didn’t know she agreed to have 7 teeth removed in Washington, feds say."
