A pediatric dentist who practiced out of the Pediatric Dentistry of Kingston office and other dental clinics in New York and New Jersey has been accused of performing unnecessary root canals on children. A government lawsuit against Barry Jacobson and his company, HQRC Management Services, for the wrongdoing resulted in a $750,000 settlement to be paid to Medicaid, New York State, and New Jersey State.
How the Dental Malpractice Was Discovered
In April 2017, a former employee of Jacobson filed a False Claims Act lawsuit after blowing the whistle on the unnecessary root canals. The lawsuit triggered a government investigation that uncovered the extent of the dental malpractice. New York Attorney General Letitia James commented that Dr. Jacobson and his company “allegedly performed unnecessary and invasive dental procedures on children to line their own pockets.” The exact number of unnecessary root canals and other dental treatments that were performed between 2011 and 2018 has not been disclosed to the public. It is possible that the number was never officially finalized.
Can Parents Sue Dr. Jacobson?
The government-led lawsuit against Dr. Jacobson and HQRC Management Services has ended, but it does not close the door on litigation against the alleged wrongdoers. The parents of children who underwent unnecessary medical procedures still have the opportunity to explore their legal options. Given that the prior settlement reached $750,000 to undo the monetary gains from the unnecessary root canals, hundreds of claimants or more could come forth in the next few months.
Dr. Jacobson has been known to practice out of these dental offices:
- North Country Pediatric Dentistry
- Pediatric Dentistry of Kingston
- Pediatric Dentistry of Albany
- Pediatric Dentistry of Brooklyn (Avenue U)
- Pediatric Dentistry of Brooklyn (Boro Park)
- Pediatric Dentistry of Flushing
- Pediatric Dentistry of Malone
- Pediatric Dentistry of Monsey
- Pediatric Dentistry of Paterson
- Pediatric Dentistry of Teaneck
- Pediatric Dentistry of the Bronx
- Pediatric Dentistry of Valley Stream
- Pediatric Dentistry of Wykoff
If your child underwent a root canal or another dental procedure at one of these dental offices between 2011 - present, then it might have been done for profit, not for any medical reason. You should consider exploring your legal options with the help of Basch & Keegan in Kingston. Our team is currently investigating this situation and is available to speak to parents who might have claims against Jacobson for dental malpractice. Our main office is in Kingston, New York, but we can also help potential clients in New Jersey with these case types.
Call (845) 251-4545 or contact us online now to request a consultation with our New York pediatric dental malpractice attorneys.