A large dental clinic in Gangnam has come under scrutiny after two patients died within eight months, revealing a pattern of prioritizing profit over patient safety by encouraging unnecessary tooth extractions.
According to MBN on the 26th, a former employee, identified as A, described the clinic's business model as targeting patients who struggle with the high costs of dental implants. A stated, "Farmers often feel guilty about spending 1 million won on a single tooth for their children," highlighting the financial burden faced by many.
A further explained, "When patients come in, they extract all their teeth that day, regardless of their condition, just to see how many implants can be placed." In one instance, a man in his 60s had 17 teeth extracted and received eight implants on June 29. Tragically, he died during a follow-up procedure a month later while receiving a sixth implant.
This clinic had previously been involved in a fatal incident last December when a woman in her 70s, who was scheduled to receive 11 implants, suffered an adverse reaction during surgery and died after being transferred to a university hospital.
Another patient, also in her 70s, recounted her experience, stating, "They told me to extract about ten teeth to remove just two," and expressed frustration over being taken advantage of as an elderly patient.
With such alarming practices, patient safety has been severely compromised. A noted, "When a patient says, 'I'm bleeding, what should I do?' the front desk tells them to ask the treatment room, and the treatment room sends them back to the front desk, creating a cycle of blame."
Experts warn that the issues seen at this clinic are not isolated. Son Byeong-jin, a spokesperson for the Korean Dental Association, stated, "Similar problems are emerging across the country, and most dentists view these clinics as criminal organizations," underscoring the seriousness of the situation.
In response to the recent deaths, the Gangnam District Health Center plans to propose stricter safety standards for anesthesia use to the government.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.