Another dental patient tests positive for hepatitis C
By SHANNON MUCHMORE World Staff Writer on May 9, 2013, at 12:19 PM Updated on 5/09/13 at 12:32 PM
Tulsa oral surgeon W. Scott Harrington
One more former patient of Tulsa oral surgeon W. Scott Harrington has tested positive for hepatitis C, bringing the total number of positive results to 70, and at least one more tested positive for HIV, according to the Tulsa Health Department.
Four people have tested positive for hepatitis B and three have tested positive for HIV, according to the department.
Harrington may have exposed at least 7,000 patients to the diseases through unsanitary equipment and a lack of infection control procedures.
He voluntarily stopped practicing March 20.
Nearly 3,800 former Harrington patients have been tested at county health departments, according to the Tulsa Health Department.
Tulsa County District Attorney Tim Harris issued a statement Thursday saying the investigation into Harrington is ongoing and will eventually be reviewed for potential criminal charges.
The investigation could take a long time, he said.“We are in contact with a variety of state and federal agencies, including the state dental board but the simple fact is that a substantial investigation will need to be conducted and completed before any decision on potential criminal charges will take place,” he said in the statement.
