I am writing a letter to report a strong case of Orthodontic Malpractice. I have been a victim of irresponsible/illegal treatment provided by Dr. Jerome S. Schechter, an orthodontist. I have reported doctor Schechter to the State Board of Dental Examination located in Austin. Among all malpractice cases, orthodontic malpractice is a kind of small one because nobody dies from it. But still, it went into Informal Settlement Conference in Octorber 2003 after investigator investigated the case. Dr. Schechter was required to show up in the conference, and he showed up with two attorneys.
My teeth were in a good shape and bites comfortably when I started seeing Dr. Schechter. After two and a half years treatment, the situation of my teeth was getting so terrible that several dental related doctors persuaded me that an Orthodontic Surgery might be the only solution. The Surgery cost is between $30,000 to $50,000 depends on the surgery doctor.
After I checked with various orthodontists and dentists, I was told that my teeth should be much better in both biting and looking if a proper treatment has been performed. I have to quit the treatment from Dr. Schechter, at that time, I only have one left side tooth roughly touched (not in biting), the rest teeth are even not touched at all. My upper molars were moved forward too much which is the biggest problem most doctors considered it a permanent damage in my life.
He estimated my treatment time as 15 months long, I actually spent 30 moths under hime. This kind of orth damage cannot be caused in a short time, it has been caused by continually malpractice during two and a half years. Several orthodontists refused to take my case without the Orthodontic surgery. There are also other doctors suggesting a very new technique called power Implant (implant several nails into my mouth roof and teeth bone to move those teeth which have been moved forward by Dr. Schechter back to their original place) might be able to pull my upper molar teeth back, but it depends on each person~{! /~}s bone condition. If the implant won~{! /~}t succeed, it will be a life time problem.
Also, this new technique is not so mutual in U.S. I have several other doctor~{! /~}s evaluation reports to prove what I stated here. Doctor Schechter should take full responsibility for the condition of my teeth. All problems can be avoided if he spent time preparing the case and followed proper treatment procedures. He even did not take any current X-ray or model before he started the treatment. He ruined my life, made me have to ware the braces from 30 to 36 years old even if the implant can correct my teeth, and I have to suffer all those procedures and pains of the treatment.
I~{! /~}m not the doctor. I don~{! /~}t know exactly what~{! /~}s wrong with my teeth after being treated by Dr. Schechter except I know it~{! /~}s far from normal good teeth. I totally depend on his knowledge. I was confused so much that I have to take advice from other doctors to know exactly what~{! /~}s wrong. What made me feel worse is every time when I mentioned other doctors~{! /~} opinions to Dr. Schechter, he came up a way to fool me.
Every time when he told me: ~{! 0~}I will correct this problem later~{! 1~}, I was waiting for that happen. It is a mental torture. The truth is: The molars can never be able to be moved backward after they are moved forward because there is no tooth after it. The worst thing is: Dr. Schechter continually uses a retainer to move my right molar forward more (there was a space between two molars at that time, he requested dentist to pull one of my tooth out).
Dr. Schechter~{! /~}s behavior is un-forgivable because he never cares about the permanent damage he caused on a person~{! /~}s life. Now, I know why he kept delaying my treatment time: Texas law protects the doctor if the patient does not suit the doctor within 2 years after damage being made. When I waked up and started to talk with the attorney, I was told the time is a big problem. Also, this kind of malpractice is not very profitable to the attorney, most attorneys do not want to spend time on this kind of case.
Then I reported him to the dental peer review in Dallas, Dr, Schechter replied Peer Review that he would like to refund everything to me if I stop any further legal action (that mean I cannot suit him, actually, it~{! /~}s also the way of peer review to protect the doctore), I refused. I reported him to the State Board of Dental Examiner in Austin. My case went into Informal Settlement Conference after investigation (a lot of cases cannot get into that point). Dr. Schechter brought two attorneys with him to the conference, and I just showed up with my husband (I~{! /~}m not required to show up). I don~{! /~}t know how to evaluate the fairness of the state board.
But after this case, I feel the orthodontist can actually do anything to damage a patient~{! /~}s teeth and the board will try best to help him. The board will find any excuse during the long treatment time, and if one excuse can be found, the case will be dismissed. The State Board first listened doctor Schechter~{! /~}s report, then my report. But the State Board asked me some questions, seems I were a defendant, those questions are all asked by standing on Dr. Sechector~{! /~}s side. The State Board didn~{! /~}t ask Dr. Schechter any question by standing in my side.
The panel~{! /~}s leader is a doctor too, honestly speaking, the panel is trying to help the doctor as much as they can. As an immigrant in this country, to suit a doctor is very difficult for us. I don~{! /~}t have an attorney help me, I cannot speak the native English as good as Dr. Schechter, I even cannot find a doctor standing up to show on the conference and help me because most of the orth. Doctor in Texas knows Dr. Schecther. All the factors made this case so hard to be fair. And this system supports the doctors like Dr. Schechter to continue his malpractice as he want.
Finally, the State Board offered me that the Board can push Dr. Schechter to fully refund my money paid to him (the board is not allowed to force Dr. Schechter refund more than what I paid) but I have to dismiss the suit. I said No, I cannot dismiss it, I want him to be punished as far as I suffered so much, but I still want my refund. The State Board wouldn~{! /~}t force him to refund me money if I don~{! /~}t dismiss the case. The State Board dismissed the case finally without refunding me anything because I didn~{! /~}t dismiss the case. The case number I will put on this report next time.
I want a full refund of the amount I paid Dr. Schechter because he didn~{! /~}t provide the service described in the contract. But after the State Board dismissed the case and I ran out of my two years suit time, Dr. Schechter refused to refund me a penny. I have hired an attorney to write a letter to the State Board and CC~{! /~}d to Dr. Schechter, he still didn~{! /~}t refund me anything. Of course, Dr. Schechter never mentioned to cover the treatment cost to clean up his mess at all.
I~{! /~}m still warring the braces from anther doctor. Now I have four implants built into my mouth. But the progress is very slow and most of time no progress. I would like to report all those suffering to the public. I feel the justice system has potential problem. I would like anybody to contact me about the detail of this case, I would like to prevent this kind of malpractice happening on any of you.
Thanks.
Juanne
Plano, Texas
U.S.A.
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