When Clinical Judgment Is Put on Trial in a Facebook Group
This account was submitted by a healthcare provider and de-identified before publication. Details that could identify a patient or practice have been removed, and it is shared with the provider’s consent.
An anonymous post was published in a local Facebook group. It included a screenshot of the Google Business profile for Lansdowne Pediatric Dentistry, clearly identifying both the practice and me by name. The author claimed that after bringing two children to my office, one child was diagnosed with seven cavities and the other with six cavities. The post further stated that two cavities on each child were treated during the visit, that additional treatment was recommended, and that subsequent second and third opinions from other dentists concluded that neither child had any cavities. The author asked whether other parents had experienced similar situations and encouraged parents to seek second opinions if something “doesn’t seem right.”
The post was inaccurate and misleading. My diagnoses and treatment recommendations were based on my clinical examination, radiographs, and professional judgment as a board certified pediatric dentist. The teeth that were treated had documented findings supporting treatment, and I do not perform restorative treatment on healthy teeth. While dentists may reasonably differ in their opinions regarding the timing or management of certain lesions, the post presented those alleged differing opinions as proof that no cavities existed and implied that unnecessary dental treatment had been performed. That characterization did not accurately reflect the care that was provided.
The post caused significant reputational and professional harm. Because it appeared in a large local community Facebook group and clearly identified my practice, it reached many current and prospective patients. Following the post, multiple families contacted my office requesting copies of records and radiographs for second opinions, and some transferred their care elsewhere. The allegations also caused emotional distress to me and my staff, who work hard to provide ethical, evidence based care. As the owner of a relatively new pediatric dental practice, damage to my professional reputation has had a meaningful impact on patient trust, referrals, and business growth.
Yes. I contacted the Facebook group administrators and requested that the post be removed because it contained false and misleading statements that harmed my professional reputation. The administrators ultimately removed the post.