Former Patient Of Tulsa Dentist Anxiously Awaiting Health Screening Results

Almost two weeks after getting tested at the Tulsa Health Department, Sheridan Greenhaw and her husband, both patients of Harrington, are still waiting for results.

Friday, April 12th 2013, 5:47 pm

By: Craig Day

Former Patient Of Tulsa Dentist Anxiously Awaiting Health Screening Results

There are major new developments in the case of an oral surgeon state health leaders have labeled a "menace to public health."

Dr. Scott Harrington, who the State Board of Dentistry said may have exposed 7,000 patients to hepatitis and HIV, due to improper infection control practices, has waived his right to a hearing on the suspension of his license.

Meanwhile, many of his former patients are waiting on answers about their own health and answers from Harrington.

Almost two weeks after getting tested at the Tulsa Health Department, Sheridan Greenhaw and her husband, both patients of Harrington, are still waiting for results.

"It's really hard to wait," Greenhaw said.

The Greenhaws are among nearly 2,500 people tested by the Tulsa Health Department, so far.

Many others who have been tested through their own doctors have already received their results, but Sheridan and her husband are still waiting and they say they're anxious.

"You feel out of control of your life," Greenhaw said.

She said she feels powerless and also frustrated, because she said patients haven't heard anything directly from Harrington.

"What we got as a statement from the lawyer doesn't cut it," Greenhaw said.

That statement by Harrington's attorney, sent April 3, said little more than Harrington is taking allegations seriously and is fully cooperating with the state dental board.

The most recent development is that Harrington agreed not to challenge the temporary suspension of his license at a preliminary hearing, which was set for next week.

In a statement Friday, Dr. Brad Hoopes, President of the Board of Dentistry said, "It seems prudent on Dr. Harrington's part to not appear for a hearing at this time, and there would be no benefit to him appearing at this time."

A full hearing before the Oklahoma Board of Dentistry is now set for August 16, but that's not enough for Greenhaw.

"He needs to go back to his patients and say, 'Look, I messed up, and I'm going to do what I can to fix it,'" she said.

Former patients of Dr. Harrington can get tested at any public health department in any county, meaning you don't have to come to Tulsa to be tested.

The Tulsa Health Department will still take walk-ins, but, beginning Monday, they encourage people to set up appointments through their hotline at 918-595-4500.

Also, anyone testing negative for HIV or hepatitis, whose last dental visit was after September 20, 2012, will still need to get another test in six months. Health leaders say it's possible, despite the results, people may be in an early stage of infection that wouldn't be detected by tests yet.