A 22-year-old fake dentist and two assistants have been charged by Czech police after treating dozens of patients using instructions found on the internet. Police said the three family members opened a surgery without a licence in their home in Havlickuv Brod two years ago and treated patients without any "necessary professional knowledge". They added that the 22-year-old man extracted teeth, performed complex root canals and applied anaesthesia, drawing on information he had obtained online. All pleaded guilty to a number of charges, police said, and face up to eight years in prison. Police did not say whether any of their patients had complained about their treatment. A 50-year-old woman worked as a nurse, while a 44-year-old man produced prosthetic devices for patients. The illegal clinic treated dozens of patients and made four million Czech koruna (£137,827, $185,500), police said. "The woman, who worked in the health sector, provided anaesthetics but also other dental material to which she had access, such as fillings, cleaning powder, glue, impression material and much more," police said in a statement. "A 22-year-old man posed as a dentist, although he lacked the necessary professional knowledge." Police spokeswoman Michaela Lebrova declined to comment on whether the force was acting on complaints from patients. All three were arrested earlier this month, before being charged this week with operating an illegal business, money laundering, attempted assault, drug dealing and theft. All have pleaded guilty, police said. The president of Czech dental chamber, Roman Šmucler, said that he had an average of 10 fake dentist cases reported a year in the country. "I have two more submissions today, so today there are three cases in the Czech Republic," Šmucler told Czech media outlet Radiožurnál. The Czech parliament last year passed a bill facilitating the employment of dentists from countries outside the EU.
Czech fake dentist gave root canals after reading online instructions
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"Czech Authorities Charge Family Members for Operating an Illegal Dental Practice"
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TruthLens AI Summary
In a troubling case in the Czech Republic, a 22-year-old man and his two family assistants have been charged with operating an illegal dental practice out of their home in Havlickuv Brod. The trio, comprising the young man, a 50-year-old woman who worked as a nurse, and a 44-year-old man who produced prosthetic devices, treated numerous patients for approximately two years without any formal dental training or licensing. The police reported that the young man performed complex dental procedures, including root canals and tooth extractions, relying solely on online resources for guidance. This unlicensed operation reportedly generated significant income, amounting to four million Czech koruna, approximately £137,827 or $185,500. Although the police have indicated that all three individuals have pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including operating an illegal business and money laundering, they have not disclosed whether any patients have filed complaints regarding the quality of care provided at this unauthorized clinic.
The case highlights a concerning trend in the Czech Republic, where Roman Šmucler, president of the Czech dental chamber, noted an average of ten cases involving fake dentists reported annually. He indicated that the prevalence of such cases remains a significant issue, with three new submissions received in a single day. The Czech parliament has recently enacted legislation aimed at facilitating the employment of dentists from non-EU countries, possibly in response to the ongoing challenges in the dental sector. The arrested individuals are now facing potential sentences of up to eight years in prison. This incident raises important questions about patient safety and the regulation of healthcare practices in the region, emphasizing the need for stringent oversight in the medical profession to prevent unqualified individuals from endangering public health.
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