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Goodwin Orthodontics whistleblowers awarded shares of money

By Jim McBride
jim.mcbride@amarillo.com

September 19, 2013 - 4:57pm 

A Travis County judge has awarded more than $22,000 in legal fees to an Amarillo law firm that helped expose more than $1 million in Medicaid fraud at a local orthodontics clinic.

Amarillo attorney Phil Russ, who represented three former employees of Goodwin Orthodontics, credited Kristen De Los Santos, Sandy De Los Santos and Lissa Eason with exposing health care fraud at the clinic that led to the federal conviction of Amarillo orthodontist David Goodwin.

“The money needs to go to those women,” Russ said Thursday. “This is an example of how responsible citizens can help save our taxpayer dollars from being drained away from government programs by fraud. It takes a whistleblower who sees it happening to sound the alarm, because fraud is a game of stealth and concealment.”

On Wednesday, a Travis County judge awarded the state of Texas and the three Amarillo women more than $4.2 million in damages against Goodwin and the clinic in a whistleblower lawsuit.

Russ said Thursday the women could receive some money from the case if the state and federal authorities collect enough restitution from Goodwin and the clinic. If state and federal authorities collect $4 million from the clinic, the women could theoretically split $630,000 to $840,000, he said.

Dr. Thomas Floyd–More than a decade of complaints

Dentist accused of physically, verbally abusing children he treated

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Thomas Floyd. (PBSO, Handout )

September 22, 2013|By Jon Burstein, Sun Sentinel

 

He developed a reputation over three decades as a champion of dental care for poor children.

But behind the walls of Thomas Floyd's dental practice, some former employees said they heard children screaming in pain and terror.

While his September 2012 arrest for child neglect shocked many in the community, hundreds of pages of records obtained by the Sun Sentinel detail a trail of disturbing allegations that the West Palm Beach children's dentist physically and verbally abused patients dating back as far as 2001.

One father said he took his 5-year-old daughter to Floyd in 2011 and the dentist mistakenly pulled three good teeth. State authorities accused Floyd of confusing the girl with another patient.

"It's horrifying that your daughter goes in for a dental cleaning and comes out missing teeth," said the father, Benjamin Rodriguez. "[Floyd] just didn't care."

Floyd and his attorney have argued he's the the target of false accusations leveled by disgruntled employees and difficult parents.

Among the allegations in state records and police reports:

Dr. Edward Dove going to be “in and out” of the country, he pays 50% of production.

Opportunity Available 3-18-13

Office Name: Edward E Dove DDS PC
Contact Person: Eddie Dove
Practice Location: Bakersfield and Chatsworth
Address: 3130 Union Ave Bakersfield, CA 93305
Date Needed: Varies
Days Needed: Varies
Telephone:  818 644-7124
Fax: 661 872-9257
Email: pediatricdentist18@gmail.com
Requirements: oral sedation certificate
Information: I am presently looking for part time or on call to cover for me.  I am presently going to be out of the country at various times.  I do have one associate, but she cannot cover all offices.  It is mainly my bakersfield and chatsworth office.  I pay 50% of production and have excellent staff.  For more info please contact me.Thank you.

 

http://www.cspd.org/news/message.asp?news_id=265

More parents coming forth with complaints about perilous Florida dentists–Dr. Michael Addair Tarver

More critics of suspended dentist come forward

By Austin L. Miller

Staff writer

Published: Saturday, September 7, 2013 at 9:03 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, September 7, 2013 at 9:03 p.m.

 

Days after state authorities suspended the license of a local dentist who allegedly mistreated a young patient, critics of Dr. Michael Addair Tarver continue to go public with their own stories.

One of those people is Kristina Pate, a dental assistant who worked at Tarver's Polliwog Dental for two months before she was terminated, she said, for speaking out about Tarver's methods.

Pate said every child who came into the practice received nitrous oxide, or laughing gas. She estimates roughly 75 percent of the children seen by Tarver also were given Demerol ???.

Some of the children, she said, were strapped onto boards to keep them still. If Tarver felt they were misbehaving in any way, they were threatened, she said.

Those on Medicaid were treated much differently from those who paid out of pocket, she said.

Pate said those who paid up front or had insurance were treated quickly and sent on their way. Medicaid patients, she said, had to wait longer. Parents of those on Medicaid had to wait about three hours before their child was finished.

Former employee of Dr. Michael Tarver says his wife, Rebecca, is not any better with children

 

Saturday, September 7, 2013

Polliwog Owner Michael Tarver Still Denies Allegations

Ocala, Florida — The allegations continue to stack up against Michael Tarver,  the owner and operator of Polliwog Dental.

The latest developments in this case do not really surprise parents whose children have attended the pediatric dentistry.

Ivy Castillo, a parent who has taken her five year old to the dentistry said, “I have experienced first-hand the ‘Dr. Jekyll’ side of ‘Doctor’ Mike.” Adding, “My son told me a couple days later that during this routine cleaning, they made him drink the ‘icky Spiderman juice’, which I have come to learn was their sedative to ‘control’ my child.”

Ocala Post has been flooded with horrifying stories of less than mediocre dental care provided by Michael Tarver.

In an E-mail we received from an employee who does not want to be identified, she wrote, “Dr. Mikes wife is not any better.  She was there when her husband man handled those kids.”  She went on to write, “I can understand a wife wanting to stand by her husband, but this is ridiculous.”

 

Rebecca Tarver, DDS, wife of Dr. Michael Tarver.

 

 

One parent, who also does not want to be identified in order to protect her children wrote,

“All 4 of my children went to Polliwog because they took Medicaid. From the get go the staff was rude and unorganized. The biggest issue was my six year old son and nine year old daughter at the time, came home with big cheek bruises and unwarranted work done. My son who has healthy teeth, was told every time I went he needed fillings. It’s funny but my two older girls (12 & 15) never had issues, I think because they were old enough to speak up or tell on them. Every time my kids went for any work, even a cleaning they told me they would need to give them the happy juice. I am so glad someone finally listened to all of us!”

The allegations against Tarver range from, placing his hands over children’s noses and mouths, over dosing children with the “kiddie cocktail“, altering medical records, to actually inflicting physical injuries to young children.

Tarver continuously maintains he is innocent, using Medicaid parents as an escape goat by claiming their children are just misbehaved.

Tarver was questioned by authorities in regards to allegations that he put his hands over a child’s nose and mouth, causing the child to lose consciousness. Tarver’s  response again deflects to the child’s behavior. Tarver stated he remembered the “extremely misbehaved” child, passing blame on to the small child.

Florida Department of Health Administrative Complaints Against Dr. Thomas Floyd

Dr. Thomas Floyd, DDS Case 2012-03003 - Florida Department of Health v Dr. Thomas Floyd - Amended Complaint

 

Dr. Thomas Floyd 2012-04834 - Florida Department of Health v Thomas Floyd - Amended Complaint

Dr. Michael Addair Tarver: Four police complaints filed

 

Suspended dentist subject of four police complaints

By Austin L. Miller
Staff writer

Published: Thursday, September 5, 2013 at 9:52 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, September 5, 2013 at 9:52 p.m.

A dentist whose license was suspended Wednesday by the state on allegations of possible child abuse was also the subject of four complaints to Ocala police, but the complaints were determined to be unfounded.

Ocala police detectives investigated the complaints and sent their findings to the State Attorney's Office for review. The criteria for child abuse was not met in any of the complaints, authorities said.

In the four cases, the parents said they took their children — ranging in age from 18 months to 7 years — to Polliwog Dental at 255 SE 17th St., Ocala, for procedures and later said there were signs of abuse, officials stated.

Two of the four cases also were sent to the state Department of Health. That agency ordered the emergency suspension of Dr. Michael Addair Tarver, owner of Polliwog Dental, on Wednesday. Tarver is a board-certified pediatric dentist.

Tarver, in an email to the Star-Banner on Wednesday, vigorously denied the allegations and said he has hired an attorney to fight the accusations.

The DOH concluded that the 33-year-old dentist violated several state statutes and patient trust, and altered patient records. In one instance, the DOH said, a 4-year-old girl stopped breathing during a dental procedure and had to resuscitated, but her parents were never notified about the incident. His actions, the DOH stated, "demonstrates that he cannot reasonably be expected to comply with any sanction short of suspension."

Another troubling pediatric sedation dentist loose in Florida–Dr. Michael Addair Tarver

Polliwog Dental Children's Dentistry, is at 255 SE 17th Street in Ocala, Florida  34771

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

State suspends pediatric dentist in Ocala

By Austin L. Miller
Staff writer
Published: Wednesday, September 4, 2013 at 7:55 p.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, September 4, 2013 at 7:55 p.m.

OCALA, FLORIDA — An Ocala dentist whose office was visited in late July by authorities who removed files and interviewed employees has had his license suspended, according to the state Department of Health.

A report by the DOH ordered the emergency suspension of Dr. Michael Addair Tarver’s license to practice dentistry.

The order, dated Wednesday, states that Tarver is a board-certified pediatric dentist. He’s the owner and operator of Polliwog Dental, a children’s dentistry office at 255 SE 17th St.

DOH officials said the emergency suspension order is directed at the individual, not the facility. Therefore, while Tarver cannot practice in the state of Florida, his wife, Dr. Rebecca Tarver, also a licensed dentist, can practice, and therefore the facility remains open, DOH said.

Tarver disputes the allegations against him.

“I am profoundly disappointed and shocked that the Board of Dentistry would take such action without even reviewing the facts or giving me a chance to defend myself,” he said in an email to the Star-Banner, adding that his attorney is “fighting this decision” and that he expects to have his license reinstated soon.

Hailing his wife as an excellent dentist, Tarver said the office is open and “will continue to provide quality care.”

The 10-page document outlined the reasons for the suspension:

Colorado Dentists Who Used Dirty Needles Arrested in Nevada–Cocaine Intoxication

 

Dentist Who Reused Needles Faces First Criminal Case

DENVER (CBS4 ) – A dentist who reused needles and put thousands of patients at risk of contracting deadly diseases has been arrested in Nevada.

Stephen Stein was arrested just after 1 a.m. Aug. 12 for cocaine and driving under the influence near Lake Tahoe in Nevada.

Court documents state Stein was speeding, 48 mph in a 35 mph zone, while intoxicated with cocaine.

Officers said they found “a hollowed out ink cartridge” in the Chevy Traverse he was driving.

In Colorado last year, Stein had been investigated by police in Denver for prescription fraud for alleged practices out of his two offices in the Denver metro area. State charges were never filed.

Stein agreed to surrender his dental license last year after the Colorado Department of Health discovered he had been under the influence of painkillers while treating patients.

Examiners said Stein admitted to being a drug addict. The board also found he had been using drugs intended for patients.

Since Oct. 1, 2012 six former patients of Stein have tested positive for either hepatitis or HIV.

It’s not known whether they contracted the diseases from Dr. Stephen Stein’s office. Stein has since surrendered his license as an oral surgeon.

About 8,000 of Stein’s patients were sent letters asking them to get tested. The health department says it’s impossible to definitively tell if the infected patients got sick from Stein.

Stein had offices in Cherry Creek and Highlands Ranch.

Stein is scheduled for court in the Lake Tahoe area on Sept. 17. Court officials said that is when the results of his blood tests will be released.

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Related:

Patients of Dr. Stephen Stein urged to get tested for HIV and hepatitis