Dentist forcibly repossesses patient's bridge
Police are investigating a German dentist for entering a patient's home and forcibly removing her bridge because he hadn't been paid for the work. Allegedly, the dentist, from the town of Neu-Ulm, was angry because the patient's insurance company hadn't come through with the £320 he was owed. From The Telegraph:
According to police, the dentist knocked on the door of the 35-year-old woman on Monday evening and without saying a word forced her into her living room and tied her hands..."German dentist extracts payment from patient" (The Telegraph, via Fortean Times)
"The dentist is being investigated for assault for the way he forced open her mouth, and theft for taking the bridges," said Christian Owsinski a police spokesman.
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Talk about a Bridge to Nowhere! I hope no federal funds were spent on this boondoggle.
I'm pretty sure he asked, "Is is safe?" while performing this operation. How could he not?
Ok, he's nuts, like most dentists are ;)... But is it really theft ? who owns the bridge if it wasn't paid for ?
When does ownership change hands ? at "installation" or at payment ?
Wait, is a bridge attached in some way to the mouth? Wa Wa Wee Wah, th's gotta hurt if it does :(
Dentists make me scared, even more so now I've read this!
I thought Germany had socialized medicine?!? Does that not cover dentistry?
>>4
Bridges have no user serviceable parts. Removable prosthesis are typically called dentures.
Aside from the theft...the guy should lose his license for performing a dental procedure in a non OSHA-certified environment.
If you're going to be charged with aggravated assault (I'm rather sure this qualifies), at least do it professionally.
Pabst Blue Ribbon! [inhales deeply thru mask]
Remy and Jake, please call your office!
was he planning on reusing that bridge??
That's funny. One of my uncles recently told me a similar story that happened years ago, though in this case, the dentist was a little more crafty.
One of our local dentists saw his patient on the sidewalk uptown.
"Willy, how is everything. Pop out that denture. I want to take a look at your gums to be sure it's fitting OK."
Willy did.
"Yeah, they're looking good...looking good."
The doc slid the denture into his coat pocket.
"Tell you what...I'm going to hold on to this denture back when you pay for it."
The toothless Willy watched forlornly as the dentist walked away with his teeth.
@ #4: OSHA ? Really now ? ... I am guessing the nearest OSHA certified environment from the town of Neu-Ulm would be what ? in Alaska ?
Why would a German dentist (german ddr sounded funny) have anything to do with a US Federal agency ?
Be glad he wasn't a heart surgeon.
@5: Germany does have a socialized welfare system, but it seems to be on the way out - health care is getting more expensive and health insurances are busy charging more money and extracting more money from patients for neccessary things. And some things - like teeth - are only part insuranced (though you can get an extra insurance for that), so you'll have to pay.
In short: It's complicated, but in the end you have to pay a lot more for a lot less.
The "dentist" is facing charges and might lose his accreditation (if this is the right word for "losing the approval to work as a dentist").
And I hope he'll never work again - First, do no harm, right?!
"Is my wallet safe?"
http://steelturman.typepad.com/thesteeldeal/images/2007/04/25/marathon_man_laurence_olivier_denti.jpg
and for that I apologize. Thank you, to my dentist, you have saved me from untold misery over the years and endured my prevarications with good grace. Lets hear it for the profession that suffers perennial under appreciation! I actually mean this since I have read that dentists frequently are vulnerable more than most to depression as a consequence of negative stereotyping and having to deal with clientele that universally wishes they were somewhere else. It is one of the few truly honorable ways to make one's living in this world and we should not forget that.
Yeah, but I can talk back to my barber and my cabbie.
He's only going to be disciplined? Why is he not in jail?