Raw Story: Patient death triggers sanctions against second Iowa dentist
Raw Story - Patient death triggers sanctions against second Iowa dentist
Clark Kauffman, Iowa Captial Dispatch
January 27, 2025 2:38PM ET
A second Iowa dentist is facing licensing sanctions related to a January 2024 dental procedure that resulted in the death of a 50-year-old patient.
Last fall, the Iowa Dental Board formally informed dentist Robert Wolf of Swisher that it intended to deny his application for a permit to use moderate sedation on patients. Wolf recently appealed that notice, and a hearing is now scheduled for April 25.
In its recently disclosed notice to Wolf, the board stated on Jan. 26, 2024, Wolf participated in dental surgery on patient J.D., after which the patient died. The board alleges Wolf participated in this surgery with an individual who was not licensed to practice dentistry and that he did so without having the required permit to use sedation.
The board also says its investigation into the case indicates Wolf was the only dentist in the operating room on more than one occasion while an advanced registered nurse administered and monitored the anesthesia to J.D.
Wolf, the board argued, facilitated the practice of an unlicensed dentist and supervised the administration of anesthesia without having the proper credentials. The available board documents do not identify the unlicensed dentist.
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