Dental patient sues Ohio State for malpractice

A patient of Ohio State College of Dentistry's Emergency Dental Clinic has filed two lawsuits totaling $250,000 against the institution, claiming malpractice, breach of contract, and fraudulent concealment, according to an article in the Lantern.

Greg Morgan, a 53-year-old handyman, went to the clinic with a toothache in 2006. During his initial exam, Morgan was told he needed restorative work and a root canal; his case was approved as a teaching case and he was subsequently assigned to a student dentist.

After receiving four fillings, he was sent to advanced prosthodontics, where he discussed possible treatment proceedings with department director Julie Holloway, DDS, the Lantern reported. Dr. Holloway presented two treatment plans, and Morgan said he decided -- at her suggestion -- to pursue one that started with extruding his back teeth to open his bite, which would enable crowns to be placed on teeth in the front of his mouth.

Morgan claimed that the treatment was portrayed as final, although his screening evaluation document notes otherwise, according to the article. Furthermore, the College of Dentistry stated that "extrusion was never recommended to this patient" in Morgan's request of admissions documents, according to the article.

However, Joe Landry, a predoctoral provider who had met with Dr. Holloway, wrote in court discovery documents that he "repeated words and ideas directly from discussion with Holloway [to Morgan]" in a meeting where extrusion was settled on as a preferred treatment.

Morgan ultimately received four fillings, four crowns, and two root canals at a cost of roughly $6,000.

Unable to afford an attorney, Morgan is pursuing the lawsuit himself.

The case was postponed in September 2010, and a March 3 hearing will decide when the case will resume, the Lantern reported.

Dental practitioners interviewed by the paper suggested that poor interdepartmental communication may be to blame for the handling of Morgan's treatment.