Patients of Kawartha Endodontics Encouraged to Seek Testing for Bloodborne Infections
Written by Comms Team, October 17, 2024
2019 Lapse at Kawartha Endodontics May Pose a Risk for Exposed Patients
Peterborough Public Health (PPH) is once more encouraging individuals who were patients of Kawartha Endodontics between January 1, 2017 and July 16, 2019 to consider being tested for blood-borne infections, as a precautionary measure.
In 2019, a serious lapse in infection prevention and control (IPAC) practices at Kawartha Endodontics was identified by PPH. Public Health Ontario conducted its own IPAC risk assessment and verified these findings. As IPAC lapses may pose a risk of transmission of blood-borne viruses and bacteria, Dr. Rita Kilislian, the owner of Kawartha Endodontics, was ordered to provide contact information for patients who had received treatment between January 1, 2017 and July 16, 2019 so they could receive information on obtaining testing for blood-borne illnesses. This Order has been upheld by the Health Services Appeal and Review Board, the Superior Court of Justice and the Divisional Court. Both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada have declined to review the Order.
Yesterday, PPH was made aware that certain patients of Kawartha Endodontics have received the attached letter. The letter does not comply with the Order and contains information which is false and misleading. PPH is therefore alerting the public to this issue.
“Under Ministry of Health directives and protocols, patients have the right to be made aware of serious IPAC lapses in clinics such as Kawartha Endodontics. PPH is mandated to uphold these directives and protocols but, since 2019 and despite a further Court Order issued on August 16, 2024, Kawartha Endodontics has refused to provide the information needed to contact patients directly”, says Dr. Thomas Piggott, Medical Officer of Health and CEO of Peterborough Public Health. “Without proper notification, patients are left without the information they need to make informed decisions for their own health care”.
If you were a patient at the clinic and received treatment between January 1, 2017 and July 16, 2019, please visit Peterborough Public Health’s website at Peterborough Public Health to download and print a copy of the patient letter for their health care provider and laboratory requisition. More information, including the IPAC Lapse Report, fact sheets regarding hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV, a detailed question and answer section related to this IPAC lapse and the various Court decisions, is available on Peterborough Public Health’s website at Peterborough Public Health
Previous public notification can be found at Peterborough Public Health
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For further information, please contact:
Media Relations
media@peterboroughpublichealth.ca
News Release and Letter – 20241017 Patients of Kawartha Endodontics Advised to Seek Testing