Utah Dentist Charged With Child Abuse After Forcing Patient's Mouth Open For X-Rays

[Sugar Cookie]

A Provo, Utah, dentist was arrested Wednesday on charges of child abuse after witnesses told police he forced a child to have dental x-rays without asking for parental consent.

The probable cause statement said Blake Matthews was treating a child during a dental appointment when he forcibly held down the uncooperative youngster for x-rays. He is also accused of grabbing the child's face to force open the mouth to insert x-ray films without consulting the child's parents or asking them for assistance.

Visible marks were left on the child's neck and were described as "violent" by one of the witnesses, the PC statement said. Witnesses heard the child tell Matthews that "it hurt" but he is reportedly replied, "If you think that hurts, it is going to hurt more," the court document stated.

The parents were unaware that anything had occurred until after the exam when one of the dental hygienists informed them of what had happened and their child also told them that Matthews had forced the x-ray film "down the back of his throat," the PC statement said.

Matthews was arrested and charged for the alleged abuse and was booked into the Utah County Jail.

Utah dentist charged with child abuse after forcing patient's mouth open for x-rays

A Provo, Utah, dentist was arrested Wednesday on charges of child abuse after witnesses told police he forced a child to have dental x-rays without asking for parental consent. The probable cause statement said Blake Matthews was treating a child during a dental appointment when he forcibly held...

kutv.com

 

[hzlb]

i do not think this turd likes children or his job

 

[Brillig]

I had a similar incident when I was appx 10 years old. New dentist, wanted to give me a shot and held up a huuuuuge syringe (I had and still have extreme needle phobia). My former childrens dentist hid the syringe, so I never knew I was getting a shot, and I told the new dentist that shots were not a part of getting a cavity filled. He insisted they were and tried to physically force my mouth open, with the help of his dental tech. I was screaming and struggling. He forced my mouth part way open, so I bit his hand really hard, the part between the thumb and the pointer finger. I ripped his hand open, he ended up in the emergency room needing stitches, and I did not get a shot.

It sure as hell felt like an attack (or abuse) to me, but back then they didn't really do anything about those types of incidents.

 

[Keepalowprofile]

I wonder if using a hammer crossed his mind.!?!?

 

[Sugar Cookie]

How old was the child?

In this day and age unless the kid is old enough to fight back I think parents should remain in the examining room.

 

[Sejanus]

He seems like a man with a short fuse.

 

[Inferus]

I had a similar incident when I was appx 10 years old. New dentist, wanted to give me a shot and held up a huuuuuge syringe (I had and still have extreme needle phobia). My former childrens dentist hid the syringe, so I never knew I was getting a shot, and I told the new dentist that shots were not a part of getting a cavity filled. He insisted they were and tried to physically force my mouth open, with the help of his dental tech. I was screaming and struggling. He forced my mouth part way open, so I bit his hand really hard, the part between the thumb and the pointer finger. I ripped his hand open, he ended up in the emergency room needing stitches, and I did not get a shot.

It sure as hell felt like an attack (or abuse) to me, but back then they didn't really do anything about those types of incidents.