Dentist accused of injecting semen into patients' mouths closes office
Updated Aug. 18, 2004, 4:34 p.m. ET
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina dentist accused of putting semen into the mouths of six female patients, including a 14-year-old, closed his office after a panel of the N.C. Board of Dental Examiners revoked his license.
The panel, which heard testimony during seven days in July, revoked the license of Dr. John Hall, 43, of Cornelius. His lawyers said they will appeal the decision to Wake County Superior Court.
Patients testified that Hall squirted a foul-tasting substance from a syringe into their mouths. A seventh testified Hall jumped on her in the dental chair and gyrated against her lower body in a sexual manner.
In the past five years, the board has revoked only three licenses, including Hall's, said Bobby White, the dental board's chief operations officer.
"I am extremely disappointed with the board's decision. As I have vehemently maintained ever since I became aware of these bizarre and sensational allegations against me, I have not done what I have been accused of," Hall said in a statement issued by his lawyers. "I am going to continue to fight these allegations against me by whatever means necessary and by whatever legal avenues are available to me."
David Maloney, a prosecutor with the Mecklenburg County District Attorney's Office who attended the dental board hearing, has said the criminal investigation is continuing.
Accusations against Hall became public in November, after several employees said they had become suspicious of his behavior. They collected five syringes from his office and asked a veterinarian to test the contents, which turned out to be semen. The employees contacted police, who searched Hall's office and found more syringes, containing similar material. DNA tests showed it was Hall's semen.
Testifying on his own behalf, Hall denied injecting semen into patients' mouths. He said he was collecting his semen in the syringes because he was tracking the side effects of Propecia, a hair-growth drug. Potential side effects include low sperm count and diminished semen. Hall said he collected his semen after-hours in an office bathroom because he didn't want to do so at home. He said he planned to take the vials to his doctor.
Emerson Thompson, one of Hall's lawyers, said Hall does not believe he received a fair hearing. The panel conducted the hearing like a civil court trial, but had a lawyer on hand to whisper advice on legal matters, he said. Thompson added that he believes the board made legal mistakes, such as keeping out evidence of a polygraph test he said Hall passed.
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Updated Aug. 18, 2004, 4:34 p.m. ET
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina dentist accused of putting semen into the mouths of six female patients, including a 14-year-old, closed his office after a panel of the N.C. Board of Dental Examiners revoked his license.
The panel, which heard testimony during seven days in July, revoked the license of Dr. John Hall, 43, of Cornelius. His lawyers said they will appeal the decision to Wake County Superior Court.
Patients testified that Hall squirted a foul-tasting substance from a syringe into their mouths. A seventh testified Hall jumped on her in the dental chair and gyrated against her lower body in a sexual manner.
In the past five years, the board has revoked only three licenses, including Hall's, said Bobby White, the dental board's chief operations officer.
"I am extremely disappointed with the board's decision. As I have vehemently maintained ever since I became aware of these bizarre and sensational allegations against me, I have not done what I have been accused of," Hall said in a statement issued by his lawyers. "I am going to continue to fight these allegations against me by whatever means necessary and by whatever legal avenues are available to me."
David Maloney, a prosecutor with the Mecklenburg County District Attorney's Office who attended the dental board hearing, has said the criminal investigation is continuing.
Accusations against Hall became public in November, after several employees said they had become suspicious of his behavior. They collected five syringes from his office and asked a veterinarian to test the contents, which turned out to be semen. The employees contacted police, who searched Hall's office and found more syringes, containing similar material. DNA tests showed it was Hall's semen.
Testifying on his own behalf, Hall denied injecting semen into patients' mouths. He said he was collecting his semen in the syringes because he was tracking the side effects of Propecia, a hair-growth drug. Potential side effects include low sperm count and diminished semen. Hall said he collected his semen after-hours in an office bathroom because he didn't want to do so at home. He said he planned to take the vials to his doctor.
Emerson Thompson, one of Hall's lawyers, said Hall does not believe he received a fair hearing. The panel conducted the hearing like a civil court trial, but had a lawyer on hand to whisper advice on legal matters, he said. Thompson added that he believes the board made legal mistakes, such as keeping out evidence of a polygraph test he said Hall passed.
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