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Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
After serving time on drug and weapons charges, Iowa dentist has license reinstated
(Photo by) An Iowa dentist who served a prison sentence on drug and weapons charges has had his license restored by state regulators. Iowa Dental Board records indicate Shawn Kerby was issued a dental license in 2004. Ten years later, in 2014, Kerby was charged by the board with indiscriminate or promiscuous prescribing or dispensing drugs for unlawful purposes. The board alleged that it had subpoenaed nine of Kerby's patient files, and in seven of those cases there were multiple prescriptions issued by Kerby that were never recorded in the patients' files. On multiple occasions, the board alleged, Kerby had prescribed controlled substances for patients he hadn't seen for more than a year. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX According to the board, Kerby explained his actions by saying he was unaware of the regulations pertaining to prescribing medications. The board allowed Kerby to continue practicing, but fined him $2,500 and placed his license on probation for two years. In December 2015, agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration served search warrants at Kerby's dental practice and home. Five months later, in April 2016, Kerby agreed to have his license placed on 'inactive' status. In February 2017, Kerby was indicted on 11 federal criminal charges, including knowingly prescribing hydrocodone and other drugs for other individuals in order to obtain the drugs for his own personal use. The offenses allegedly were committed while Kerby was operating two central Iowa dental clinics, Kerby Family Dental and Bright Smiles Family Dental. Prosecutors alleged that through his dental practice, Kerby had prescribed patients hydrocodone despite the lack of any medical need for the drug. He would then arrange for the patients to route the hydrocodone pills to him once they had filled the prescription at a local pharmacy. While awaiting trial in July 2017, Kerby was alleged to have violated his pretrial release agreement by testing positive for opiates. In January 2018, with the federal charges still pending, Kerby was arrested by police in Marengo on charges of serious domestic abuse assault and interference with official acts. He later pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of disorderly conduct. In February 2018, a plea agreement in the federal case was reached in which nine of the charges were dismissed and Kerby pleaded guilty to charges of obtaining hydrocodone by deception or fraud and being an unlawful user of drugs while in possession of firearms. He was sentenced to 20 months in prison, according to court records. Shortly after his sentencing but before he began serving his sentence, Kerby was pulled over by police in Marengo. Court records indicate a search of his vehicle resulted in the discovery of a Crown Royal bag in which a glass methamphetamine pipe was located. Kerby subsequently tested positive for amphetamine and methamphetamine and allegedly admitted using meth, according to court records. After Kerby began serving his federal prison sentence in Leavenworth, Kansas, he voluntarily surrendered his Iowa dental license. In November 2020, after Kerby's release from prison, the Iowa Dental Board reinstated his license subject to five years of probation, during which he would have to abstain from drug use and submit to practice monitoring. Recently, the board agreed to terminate the probation agreement early, restoring Kerby's license to full privileges, free and clear of any restrictions. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Dentist alleged to be ‘harmful to the public' ordered to undergo remedial training
The Iowa Dental Board within the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing oversees the state's dental profession. (Photo by Getty Images; logo courtesy State of Iowa) A Linn County dentist charged with practicing dentistry in a manner that is harmful to the public has been ordered to undergo remedial training. Iowa Dental Board records indicate the board recently charged dentist Terra Hickey of Center Point with practicing in a manner that is harmful or detrimental to the public. Hickey has been an Iowa-licensed dentist since July 2000, The board alleges Hickey, who works at Center Point Family Dentistry, at some unspecified time in the past failed to recognize tooth decay, failed to complete a thorough removal of decay, failed to properly place restorations, and failed to adequately inform patients of their diagnosis and treatment plans. The board adds that Hickey's failure to diagnose cavities in multiple patients resulted in tooth extractions. Board records indicate the investigation of Hickey's practice was initiated in 2023. The board recently agreed to resolve the case with a settlement agreement that calls for Hickey to complete a comprehensive remedial education program as well as a board-approved coarse on ethics. In addition, Hickey's license will be placed on probation for one year, during which a sampling of Hickey's work will be reviewed by a dental-practice monitor. Hickey will also be required to pay $1,200 'for probation,' according to the agreement. The Iowa Dental Board has issued a final order in a disciplinary case involving a dentist accused of contributing to the death of a patient. An Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing database indicates the board issued the order involving dentist Jonathan Karch two weeks ago on April 30. However, board documents outlining the terms of the final order have yet to be made publicly available, and the board's website indicates there are no public records of any disciplinary action ever taken against Karch. Last fall, the board issued an emergency order restricting Karch's practice after a patient who underwent a dental-implant procedure in January 2024 died. At the time, the board alleged Karch, who worked at the Dental Studio of Iowa in Johnston, did not stay in the operatory for the duration of the procedure, in violation of state regulations. In issuing the emergency order restricting Karch's ability to practice, the board said it recognized '(Karch) as an imminent threat to public safety' and stated that he 'should not be permitted to participate in procedures involving sedation until further order.' The emergency order was issued nine months after the alleged death and coincided with a civil lawsuit filed against Karch and others involved in the surgery. The lawsuit, filed in Polk County District Court by the family of Joseph Daniels, stated that on Jan. 26, 2024, the 50-year-old Daniels underwent a dental-implant operation that began at 7:15 a.m. and was completed at 3:15 p.m. Around 3:30 p.m., paramedics were dispatched to Dental Studio of Iowa with a report of an 'unconscious person.' According to the lawsuit, the paramedics arrived at 3:40 p.m. and found Daniels in a dental exam chair 'pale, cyanotic, cool and unresponsive.' Daniels was then taken to Iowa Methodist Medical Center where he died at 5:51 p.m.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
For the third time, Iowa dentist is charged with professional incompetence
The Iowa Dental Board within the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing oversees the state's dental profession. (Photo by Getty Images; logo courtesy State of Iowa) An eastern Iowa dentist with a history of disciplinary actions is, for the third time, facing allegations of professional incompetence. The Iowa Dental Board has charged Dr. Masih Safabakhsh of Gentle Dental in Cedar Rapids with failure to maintain a reasonably satisfactory standard of competency in the practice of dentistry and with indiscriminately or promiscuously prescribing or administering drugs. None of the underlying allegations that gave rise to those charges has been made public by the board. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for Aug. 21, 2025. In December 2011, the board charged Safabakhsh with gross malpractice and issued an emergency restricting his practice, alleging that he had used a cutting or grinding device on multiple patients to 'excessively' separate patients' teeth to facilitate his placement of orthodontic bands in the patients' mouths. 'Due to this, these teeth were severely and irreversibly damaged and will require restoration,' the board alleged. The emergency order barred Safabakhsh from continuing to engage in orthodontics for new patients, citing an 'immediate danger to the public health, safety and welfare.' In January 2012, Safabakhsh consented to an order permanently restricting him from using a cutting or grinding device to separate patients' teeth for placement of orthodontic bands. He also agreed to a $7,500 fine. Six months later, in July 2012, Safabakhsh was subjected to another emergency order from the board. This time, the board's order immediately suspended his license to practice dentistry of any kind. At that time, the board alleged it had received a complaint from multiple employees at Safabakhsh's dental office regarding a patient who had a medical emergency after being administered 16 cartridges of a local anesthetic and had to be transported to a hospital by ambulance. A board consultant alleged that 16 cartridges of Carbocaine anesthetic was three times the manufacturer-specified maximum dosage — although Safabakhsh's staff allegedly said patients were regularly administered between 10 to 16 cartridges. The board alleged that after the incident, Safabakhsh's staff was told in writing that an ambulance was not to be called by anyone unless requested by a doctor or patient. Safabakhsh was also accused of performing substandard work related to a root canal on one patient and a tooth restoration on another patient. A board consultant also concluded that on multiple occasions, Safabakhsh billed for services that were not performed or not documented in patient records. The board eventually fined Safabakhsh $10,000. In August 2014, after Safabakhsh underwent remedial training, the board reinstated his license subject to several conditions and an indefinite period of probation. In April 2022, the board reinstated Safabakhsh's license free and clear of any restrictions and terminated his probation. It's not clear when the alleged actions that led to the current charges of incompetence occurred, although state records suggest the board's investigation of those matters was initiated in 2022 — the same year the board removed all restrictions from his license. The Iowa Capital Dispatch was unable to reach Safabakhsh for comment.
