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Tuesday, November 08, 2005

Ind. Gov't. - Angola dentist's attorney blasts suspension

"Angola dentist's attorney blasts suspension" is the headline to a story by Jim Measel
on WTHD, LaGrange Indiana this afternoon. Some quotes:

ANGOLA - The attorney for an Angola dentist whose license was suspended is complaining about the way the state handled the proceedings. Angola attorney Beth Beech says she and fellow attorney Allen Stout were given less than 48 hours by Indiana Attorney General Steve Carter to prepare for a hearing before the State Dental Board last Friday concerning their client Doctor Penny Dunlap.

Beech says in a written statement issued this morning that the Attorney General's office filed a petition with the Dental Board last Wednesday and that she and Stout did not get a copy until the following afternoon for the Friday hearing. Beech adds the Hearing Notice was not issued by the Board until last Thursday afternoon and that she and Stout got the notice yesterday, three days after the hearing took place.

Dunlap's license was temporarily suspended for 90 days by the State Dental Board last Friday pending a full hearing by the Board over allegations she mis-diagnosed the number of cavities in three patients. Beech adds a representative from the Attorney General's office made a so-called courtesy call last Wednesday afternoon to notify her and Stout of the petition filing and hearing time with the State Board of Dentistry but the message did not include all details of the Hearing Notice.

In contrast, Beech says Carter's office had sufficient time to subpoena two witnesses to provide testimony at the hearing. A press release was issued by Carter to various news media outlets around the state following Friday's hearing.

Here is the official agenda for the meeting of the Dental Board last Friday, Nov. 4. Apparently the disciplinary action at issue is Item VIII, labeled "To be announced."

The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette had a brief story Sat., Nov. 5, headlined "Angola dentist suspended: Accused of finding phantom cavities." Some quotes:

An Angola dentist’s license was suspended Friday after allegations that she diagnosed patients with cavities that didn’t exist.

The Indiana Board of Dentistry suspended the license of Penelope Lynn Dunlap, 35, at the request of state Attorney General Steve Carter. According to a written statement from Carter’s office, the suspension will be effective for 90 days pending a full hearing by the board. * * *

On Sept. 21, Dunlap’s office was searched as part of a Medicaid fraud investigation, according to the attorney general’s office. At that time, patient records, Medicaid claims and computer equipment were seized by Carter’s Medicaid Fraud Investigation team and the Indiana State Police.

Dunlap’s office was closed about two days as a result of the search. That investigation is ongoing, the attorney general’s office said.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on November 8, 2005 04:22 PM
Posted to Indiana Government