Disgraced dentist Thomas Floyd shows up to taunt protestors and show his support for Dr. Schneider

I’m receiving reports that Floyd has been there on more than one occasion this week and this picture along with others was taken as he exited Howard Schneider’s office.

More on Thomas Floyd here:

http://www.wptv.com/news/region-c-palm-beach-county/west-palm-beach/thomas-floyd-plea-agreement-in-dentistry-child-abuse-case

Tip of the hat to Dr. John Armstrong and state investigator Michael Knezevich

 

 

Dr. John Armstrong and Michael Knezevich-
A Story of Two American Patriots

by: Michael W. Davis, DDS

Dr. John H. Armstrong led a highly distinguished and venerated career as a physician, in the US Army. His active duty responsibilities included orthopedic surgery, supervision of a specialized trauma unit, as well as education for our next generation of physicians. He assumed responsibility not only for active duty personnel injured in the line of combat duty, but also their families at times. As a command medical officer, he was there for the well being of our nation’s soldiers.

Dr. Armstrong fully comprehends working with a team, and within chain-of-command, to obtain the desired objective. He will get results. He will support his command subordinates, in the field. As such, he generates team morale. He serves as both a leader by example, and importantly as a teacher, mentor and coach, to his subordinates.

This is the remarkable individual, Florida Governor Rick Scott appointed to position of Florida State Surgeon General, in 2012.

(for more please read: http://www.floridahealth.gov/public-health-in-your-life/about-the-department/ssg/index.html)

Michael Knezevich is a retired police officer veteran, of over twenty years. His skin is calloused from years, of dealing with the criminal element in our society. It’s in his blood to “protect and serve”, the public welfare. Today, Mr. Knezevich works at a salary of approximately, $36,000 per anum, as a malpractice investigator for Florida’s Department of Health and Human Services. He investigates allegations of Medicaid and Medicare fraud, for basically a peanut’s income. Mr. Knezevich is only a few paychecks himself distanced, from the disadvantaged, who depend on government assistance. He’s often up against highly skilled white-collar criminals and medical professional criminals, who cheat the taxpayer and harm the most vulnerable in our society. Mr. Knezevich is definitely fighting the good fight, “in the trenches”.

The bipartisan US Senate report of July 2013, on corporate dentistry offered firm evidence of dental Medicaid fraud, as a well-established industry and business model, within the dental profession. Further troubling evidence has been provided by reports of Bloomberg Business News, PBS Frontline, investigative reporters Byron Harris and Roberta Baskin, Debbie Hagan’s “Dentist The Menace” online blog, etc. At the federal level, the Office of Inspector General for Health and Human Services has been continually admonished for “wrist slaps” on violators, which enable and perpetuate unlawful activities. Individual state auditors and regulators fare no better, in their enabling of Medicaid and Medicare abusers and fraudsters.

Dr. Thomas Floyd recently embarrassed Florida. He was an entrenched icon of organized dentistry, both in Florida and nationally. Dr. Floyd was allegedly involved in numerous acts of physical abuse of disadvantaged Medicaid children, going back for over a decade. Florida’s “good old boy” system gave him pass after pass. Allegations came and went, as did witnesses, but it was business as usual for Dr. Floyd. Florida’s regulatory authorities were in perpetual hiding, under their collective desks. Eventually, even this disturbing boil came to a head and popped. Dr. Floyd has since surrendered his dental license, and agreed to never again practice dentistry. However, this alleged Medicaid violator’s abuses were so egregious, this amounts to “a day late and a dollar short”, when it comes to protection of the public interest.

Next came the alleged actions against Dr. Michael Tarver, a pediatric dentist and Medicaid provider. His actions of amending patient records, after knowledge of those records being under Florida State investigation, have been confirmed. He added entries into patient records, but neglected to openly signify the amendments were at a later date, and not the day of patient care. This represents a potentially serious misrepresentation, which any first-year medical or dental student would be sanctioned for. In my personal work as an expert dental witness, this act alone usually changes the questions asked. It’s no longer a question of malpractice or not, but a question of fraud, and how severe the settlement will become against the violator.

Supporters of Dr. Tarver nitpick over a parent’s complaint of lack of informed consent for general anesthesia. In actuality, medicated conscience sedation was employed for the minor patient. Either way, medications were delivered to a child, which have known risks, without the consent of the parent, and with their expressed disapproval. Only a trained medical or dental expert is held to the standard of care, of understanding different levels of sedation and their associated risks. An untrained person can’t be held to medical/dental standard of care, but the doctor certainly is.

Dr. Tarver allegedly resuscitated a child patient, after they stopped breathing during dental treatment. The parent was allegedly never informed of this adverse clinical outcome, which violates standard of care, as well as Florida statutes relating to practice of dentistry. Parents were routinely denied access to accompany their children during dental care by Dr. Tarver, so they often had no direct knowledge of exactly how their children were being cared for. Although Dr. Tarver claimed in a press report, that the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) condones his actions of denying parent’s access to their children during dental procedures, the opposite is the truth. The AAPD Guidelines state that most children behave better (not worse) with their parent’s presence. One is left to wonder, what Dr. Tarver may be hiding?

Dr. Thomas Floyd–More than a decade of complaints

Dentist accused of physically, verbally abusing children he treated

• 

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:

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

Ever wonder just what caliber of dentists the ADA considers distinguish enough to be a District Trustee?

Here is why their judgment should not be trusted.  

Maybe you remember Dr. Thomas Floyd from his mug shot? No? 

Well, maybe the news reports below about the distinguished gentleman (sarcasm) will jog your memory. Or educate those who are familiar with Dr. Thomas Floyd.

• Dr. Thomas Floyd on Google
• Menace to Society–Dr. Thomas Floyd–finally stripped of dental license
• Other Blog posts related to Dr. Thomas Floyd

Below is an announcement by the ADA stating what a glorious event the “Medicaid Challenges and Strategies Symposium” of 2008 turned out to be, which included the leaders of each of the ADA’s 17 "trustee districts” 

 

August 04, 2008

Medicaid challenges, strategies examined

By Stacie Crozier

Seventeen private practice dentists—one from each ADA district—who logged at least 1,000 Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program patient visits in the last year gathered at the ADA June 23 to identify challenges and successful strategies for improving access for this population group.

[We all know Dr. Thomas Floyd probably logged that many a week! Wonder what the other 16 dentists “logged”].

Menace to Society–Dr. Thomas Floyd–finally stripped of dental license, but should be UNDER a jail!

Posted: 06/12/2013

• By: Dave Gould

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Former West Palm Beach children's dentist Thomas Floyd has pleaded guilty to charges that he abused a 4-year-old boy he was treating in his office. Floyd was arrested last September by the West Palm Beach Police Department.

Floyd has agreed to relinquish his dentist license in Florida and will not practice dentistry anywhere in the United States. The agreement calls for 150 hours of community service. The state also agreed not to pursue additional charges against Floyd from any other known victims from his former dental practice.

The case was investigated by the Department of Health which indicated that were numerous incidents of child abuse over the past two years.

According to the investigation released by the Department of Health, “Floyd’s behavioral control methods with his patients fall well below acceptable standards of practice in treating pediatric patients.”

A patient claimed Floyd punched a 4-year-old boy during a routine dental procedure. The child suffered swelling, abrasions, and bruises on his lips, according to West Palm Beach police.

A witness stated after the boy bit the doctor, Floyd used a drill and the palm of his hand to force a dental instrument into the child’s mouth, causing the injuries.

The Health Department received an anonymous complaint stating Floyd abused children in his office “by putting his hand over their mouths and calling them names.”

On another occasion, Floyd reportedly prevented a child from screaming by stuffing a dental bib into the child’s mouth, the Health Department report stated.

Read more: http://www.wptv.com/dpp/news/region_c_palm_beach_county/west_palm_beach/thomas-floyd-plea-agreement-in-dentistry-child-abuse-case#ixzz2W92SQ8SB

Dr. Thomas Floyd arrested again, this time for Medicaid Fraud and more.

Pam Bondi’s Office Arrests West Palm Beach Dentist on Medicaid Fraud and Grand Theft Charges

By: Eric Giunta | Posted: February 8, 2013 2:27 PM

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi has announced that her office has arrested a West Palm Beach dentist -- Dr. Thomas Floyd, 61 -- on charges of Medicaid fraud, grand theft, and employing a person to perform duties outside the scope of their license.

“Employing a person to perform duties outside the scope of their license and billing Medicaid for those services is endangering patients and stealing from the Medicaid program,” Bondi said in a press release.

Dr. Thomas Floyd, on Dr. Thomas Floyd

Dr. Thomas Floyd was recently arrested in West Palm Beach, Florida for, among numerous other charges, beating, choking and gagging children. One such child was being stabbed in the mouth so badly by Dr. Thomas Floyd, his assistant ran through the office screaming for someone to call the police, she though Floyd was going to kill the child!

Below is Floyd’s bio he posted on classcreator.com. Sounds like such a lovely man, but I believe his bio needs a bit of updating!!  What a creepy mean old man.

Thomas Floyd Bio on ClassCreator.com

Dr. Thomas Floyd–more parents stepping forward with horror stories

As what usually happens, when a local news station airs the stories on children being abused by evil child abusing dentists, more parents come forward. So goes the case in Florida of Dr. Thomas Floyd.
Last evening, more parents have come forward, one parent whose child suffered being gut punched by Dr. Thomas Floyd 11 years ago, when her child was 3 years old.
Apparently Dr. Thomas Floyd has been a very very bad man for many years. Sucker punching innocent children, beating them black and blue. Busting their lips wide open. Parents have filed complaint, up to 25 in the last five years alone. What has the police in West Palm Beach, Florida done about this over the years, not one damn thing!
Apparently, the authorities in Florida think it’s perfectly reasonable for a man to beat children if he has some initials after his name, and someone refers to his as “doctor”.  What have the employees of Dr. Thomas Floyd done over the years? They have assisted in the child abuse as far as I’m concerned and are just as guilty as he is! Shame on each and every one of you – from Dr. Thomas Floyd all the way down to the county/district attorney who has done NOTHING!


Rest assured there are thousand of children this man has beaten, punched, smacked, slapped and no telling what else over the years.  Has he waterboarded children like, Megann Scott in Oklahoma? Yes, he probably has.
[Update, September 11, 2012 2:42PM
Just confirmed that this Dr. Thomas Floyd was in fact the dentist I was contacted about. I will also have to nibble on my words, and I don't mind doing that. It was people working at the clinic who took pictures and have evidence to nail this bastard.

For those who did, Big Round of Applause!!! For those who didn't, shame on them. Now, for the slow ass response from authorities, every child who was beaten since they were alerts, well, they have some responsibility in that! ]
More patients of dentist accused of abuse coming forward

WEST PALM BEACH -- More allegations have come to light involving a West Palm Beach children's dentist.

Dr. Thomas Floyd was arrested last week for child abuse, for allegedly punching a 4-year-old boy in the mouth back in May of 2010. Now another parent says her child was punched too.

Crystal Rolle of West Palm Beach says in February of 2001, Dr. Floyd punched her daughter in the stomach when she was only 3-years-old to make her stop crying.

The girl, who's now 14, remembers what happened. Aaliyah Rolle, Dr. Floyd's former patient says, “He punched me and then he punched me again and I think I was crying more and screaming.”

Crystal Rolle, Aaliyah's mother says, “I don't think he should have anything to do with children or anyone for that matter.”

Crystal says Dr. Floyd was not charged in that incident 11 years ago, because police told her they didn't have enough evidence.  There were no eyewitnesses and police couldn't take the word of a 3-year-old. Dr. Floyd is free on $3000 bond.
He denies abusing any children and says he's innocent.

The Department of Health suspended Floyd’s license to practice dentistry after his arrest Friday.

Dr. Thomas Floyd, arrest for beating up a 4 year old in his dental office.

A mom contacted me last fall about this guy. At least I think this was the dentist.  She was working hard to get him arrested.

 

 

STATE, POLICE: West Palm Beach pediatric dentist Thomas Floyd beat up 4-year-old patient, abused others

By Scott T. Smith / CBS12.com
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- A West Palm Beach pediatric dentist has been arrested on a child abuse charge, accused of beating up a 4-year-old boy during a dental procedure in 2010.

Thomas P. Floyd, 61, of 258 Golden River Drive in Tequesta, was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail Friday afternoon, and state officials issued an emergency order to suspend his license to practice dentistry, with multiple allegations of further abusive incidents involving other children (details below).
The state also alleges he used unhygienic practices, including failing to change gloves or instruments between patients.

About 25 complaints have been filed against Floyd with West Palm Beach Police since 2006, the state noted.

According to a probable cause affidavit for Floyd's arrest, West Palm Beach Police responded to a 9-1-1 call on May 5, 2010, from Floyd's office at 400 Executive Center. Witnesses reported hearing a child screaming and crying in one of the exam rooms and the boy later told police that "the doctor went pow pow on my face" ... "and it hurt."

At the time, no employees said they witnessed the incident, but several advised "this was an ongoing problem with Floyd being physically abusive to patients."

The responding officer noted the child had an injured lip, but Floyd said the child bit it during a procedure to cap several teeth.

 
The child's mother took photos of the injuries and took him to the pediatric unit at St. Mary's Medical Center, where records noted the boy had a tear under his tongue, multiple cuts on his lips and a laceration on his gums. His lips were swollen and had dried blood on them.

An investigator met with the mother and child on April 5, and a Child Protection Team interviewed him a week later and his stories were consistent that the dentist had hit him in the face several times.