MASON CITY, IA---A North Iowa dentist said Wednesday night he will “vigorously defend” himself against new charges of unprofessional conduct.
Doctor Peter Vidal practices in Garner, Iowa.
The Iowa Dental Board is scheduling a disciplinary contested case hearing for him on January 13, 2010 in Des Moines.
Dr. Vidal is facing three counts.
He is accused of unprofessional conduct, willfully or repeatedly violating a rule of the board and failing to comply with discipline imposed by the Board.
On February 23, 2009 Dr. Vidal entered into a Stipulation and Consent Order with the Board.
Under the agreement Dr. Vidal agreed to complete a professional boundaries course, have a worksite monitor, maintain his records in accordance with the Board's rules and to conduct himself in professional manner towards patients and staff members.
After the Stipulation and Consent Order became effective in February, additional information was received alleging Dr. Vidal engaged in unprofessional and inappropriate conduct towards patients and staff members which the Board said includes:
-Prescribing controlled substances to a young adult female patient by telephone, including some of which were made to an out of state pharmacy and failed to document them in the patient record.
-Dr. Vidal provided money and the use of his car to this young female patient and attempted to recruit the patient to be employed in his home.
-Dr. Vidal has a long-term pattern of loaning money and his car to patients, allowing patients to live in his home and hiring patients and bartering his dental services in return for personal services.
-Dr. Vidal engaged in unprofessional behavior towards and made unprofessional comments to, staff persons and patients.
-He used his workplace computer in an unprofessional manner and allowed persons to observe this.
-Vidal’s behavior occurred both before and after the completion of the two ethics and professional boundary courses that were required by the Board's Stipulation and Consent Order.
-On July 7, 2009 the Board ordered Dr. Vidal to undergo a complete psychological and psychiatric evaluation.
The Board's filing suggests Dr. Vidal can resolve the latest charges against him with a settlement agreement.
Dr. Vidal’s license to practice dentistry in the state of Iowa was indefinitely suspended by the Board in the February of 2009 Stipulation and consent order.
All but 30 days of the suspension were set aside provided Vidal fully and successfully complied with the terms of the order.
His license was immediately placed on probation until further notice at the time.
In February of 2008, The Iowa Dental board accused Dr. Vidal of performing unnecessary root canals on several patients between 2006 and 2008.
They were completed on Medicaid (title 19) patients, which means the state of Iowa picked up the tab.
In a brief phone interview Wednesday night, Dr. Vidal said “we’ll be vigorously defending ourselves again.”
Dr. Vidal said he had no information about the latest complaint; he is investigating what it is and referred us to his attorney in Des Moines for additional comment.
