Former dentist takes state licensing board to court over disciplinary action

A former Iowa dentist who was the subject of 30 past complaints and was accused of sexual impropriety with patients is appealing the revocation of his license.

Earlier this year, the Iowa Dental Board revoked the license of Dr. Phelan Thomas, 66, of West Des Moines, IA. The decision came after the board, in 2023, charged Thomas with improper sexual contact with, or making suggestive, lewd, lascivious, or improper remarks to, a patient or a coworker; unprofessional or unethical conduct; and failing to comply with an order of the board.

Thomas has appealed his license revocation to the Iowa District Court. He is seeking a judge's order that would reverse the board’s decision or modify it so that in place of a license revocation his license would be placed on probation, allowing him to continue his practice.

The board has denied any wrongdoing in reaching its decision. A court hearing on the matter is scheduled for December 6.

The disciplinary charges that were levied last year were not the first Thomas has faced. In 2018, he was accused of failing to maintain a satisfactory standard of competency; making improper sexual contact with, or making suggestive remarks to, a patient or coworker; and failing to comply with standard precautions for preventing and controlling infectious disease. As part of a settlement on those charges, Thomas' license was placed on probation for five years.

As part of his probation, Thomas was initially barred from being alone with female patients -- although the board subsequently decided he could be alone with female patients as long as he had a baby monitor in his operatory with his office manager listening in. The board also required his staff to submit "surveillance forms" to the board indicating whether Thomas treated patients in a professional manner.

In 2021 and 2022, two patients filed complaints regarding Thomas, with both alleging that he made inappropriate comments. Patient K.G. complained that when she saw Thomas to have veneers placed on her teeth, he sarcastically commented, "I hope these make you more attractive."

When one procedure was completed, the board alleged, Thomas kissed K.G. on the cheek and stated, "You know I really wish you didn't have a boyfriend, so I could invite you over to my house and show you all the books and journals around my bed."

In October 2022, patient K.R. sought treatment from Thomas to have four teeth bonded. According to the board, Thomas asked the 29-year-old K.R. about her mother, specifically whether her mother was as beautiful as K.R. was, and whispered and talked softly as if to prevent anyone from overhearing his comments.

During a subsequent visit, K.R. brought her mother along to advocate for her and later complained to the board that Thomas flirted with her mother, telling her, "Oh, you're beautiful and athletic." In a later visit, he allegedly placed his head on K.R.'s head and whispered to her that her mother was beautiful. Thomas also was alleged to have pulled K.R. into a corner while asking her about her mother.

State records indicate Thomas has alleged the allegations against him are attributable to "Karens" -- a derogatory term often used to describe entitled females -- and racism.

This article was originally published in the Iowa Capital Dispatch and republished by DrBicuspid under the Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. The Iowa Capital Dispatch is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. The Iowa Capital Dispatch maintains editorial independence.

Deputy Editor Clark Kauffman has worked during the past 30 years as both an investigative reporter and editorial writer at two of Iowa's largest newspapers, the Des Moines Register and the Quad-City Times.