Georgia Dentist Could Be Accused Of Inflicting Emotional Distress

A Georgia dentistry practice has attracted attention after one father found out that his 5 year old daughter was restrained for a simple procedure without his express consent.

James Crow the father of the restrained child says that he was in the waiting lobby when he heard screams coming from the room where his daughter was being examined. He states that he was not allowed in the examination room but had to enter in order to see what was happening.

When Crow entered the room he found his daughter strapped to a papoose board, which is a medical tool shaped like a sack used only in special cases. The father claims he was not notified that such a device was going to be used on his child.

Felicia Evans the office manager at Smiles-R-Us the dentist office that restrained the child, says that normal procedure mandates informing the parents when a child needs to be restrained using a papoose board.

However Evans did not specify exactly if the procedure was followed and if James Crow was properly notified before the decision to restrain the child was implemented.

According to different sources Georgia Law does not prohibit the use of papoose boards on children but since there currently is no evidence of a signed consent form by the parents , other stipulations regarding abuse prevention laws could be used.

Since both Crow and his mother which was present at the time stated they had found the little girl crying and shivering there is the possibility that emotional trauma was caused by the event.

At this point there is no information that suggests the parents intend to sue the dentist facility but things could change especially after the wave of public support that the Crow’s have received.

According to online information from Georgia Law firms, a case against the dentist office could be issued if the family can prove that the child was emotionally distressed by the event. The parents have to also prove that the dentist’s conduct was extreme and that the child was frightened, embarrassed or humiliated.

A pediatric dentist named Edward Grove in California was also accused of using papoose boards without it being strictly necessary and other abusive behavior back in 2002. There are several websites, Facebook pages and blogs that still demand the revocation of Doctor Edward Grove’s license. But no formal complaints have been registered for the incidents he is accused of.

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