THURSDAY JULY 20, 2017

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closed Guelph Sales Representative Ask me dental clinic what your home is continues worth! to mount 519-760-MOVE Dental college admits province’s complaint- www.GreatGuelphHomes.com based inspections are under review as Oakville lawyer prepares class- action lawsuit on behalf What’s of 3,600 patients inside Letters 6-7 Jessica Lovell Sports 18 [email protected] LifeNews 22 A recent infection control lapse at a Guelph dental clinic that resulted in thousands of patients being advised to Tribune photo by CHRIS SETO A forensic investigator closes the door to the Guelph police van on Tuesday morning after exiting 4 Hasler Crescent. The RUGBY READY get tested for HIV and hepatitis has no body of 54-year-old Mirella Roncato was found there earlier in the day. doubt been alarming for the patients of that clinic. But there may be a bigger issue at play that could be a concern for all dental patients. Son charged with murder in death of his mother While the regulatory college for dentists has guidelines for infection Jacob Roncato, 26, is being held in custody for a bail hearing on Friday control that its members are required Chris Seto members did say, however, the accused is the son of the to follow, just like Public Health, when [email protected] victim and suggested that his struggles with mental ill- it comes to inspecting to see that those ness may have played a role in this death. standards are being followed, the col- A 54-year-old Guelph woman is dead and a 26-year- At the bail hearing, the justice of the peace issued lege works on a complaints basis. old Guelph man is in police custody facing a charge of a publication ban on reporting any evidence heard in “We do not currently have a system first-degree murder. court regarding this matter. Guelph’s Brittany Kassil to ‘monitor’ every dental clinic,” Kevin Jacob Roncato was led into a Guelph courtroom on On Tuesday, shortly after midnight, Guelph police hitting rugby World Cup Marsh, director of communications for Tuesday afternoon after he was arrested earlier that responded to a call at a home on Hasler Crescent and with Canada morning. He stands charged with murder in the death of found the body of a woman inside. The circumstances the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Page 18 Ontario, said in an email response to a Mirella Roncato. surrounding the death appeared to be suspicious in Mercury Tribune inquiry. Several Roncato family members attended court but nature, officers said. Continued on Page 26 were too distraught to speak about the issue. Family Continued on Page 2

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From front page “I cannot understand why Cartho-Oliver Whether the college should they didn’t work harder to said she would or could put such a system in contact patients directly and like to see better place is one of the questions earlier,” Cathro-Oliver said. supervision of These infections are being looked at in a current McKechnie said the local clinics – “better life-changing and as a review of the college’s Infec- health unit was following strict and mandatory tion Prevention and Control guidelines set out by Public spot checks, the mama, the thought of (IPAC) guidelines, Marsh said. Health Ontario on how to way restaurants my kids having them He referred the Mercury handle the situation. do, with big Tribune to a public statement It is necessary to notify coloured signs at ‘ is indescribable. from the college on the issue patients before notifying the clinics them- Julia Cathro-Oliver, mother of four who that emphasized that “dentists the general public, he said, selves showing are extensively trained on and the health unit relies on patients if they were all patients at Growing Smiles infection prevention,” and that the clinic to supply patient are safe or not,” dentists have an obligation information so they can be she said. to maintain the standards of contacted. Marsh said in practice, including ensuring “Because the clinic sent addition to the RCDSO and that the clinic is staff are adequately trained in WDG Public Health’s com- include revocation or suspen- their own letters to some guideline review that is cur- accessible to a college inspec- IPAC procedures. munications specialist, said in sion of the right to practise, patients first, we posted rently underway, the regula- tor or investigator, or Public The statement was issued an email. limitations on the dentist’s the lapse on our website tory college has also reminded Health if any concerns are June 30 – the same day Public Health has been certificate of registration, rep- and issued a press release all members that they must raised,” Marsh said. Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph mandated by the Ministry of rimand, or a fine paid to the as soon as our letters were meet guidelines and consider The Guelph Dental Asso- Public Health mailed 3,600 let- Health to do such inspections Ontario government. mailed,”McKechnie said. “We the implications of the stan- ciates clinic has let Public ters to patients of the Guelph since January 2016. Another potential conse- also shared the information on dards suggested by Public Health know of its work plan Dental Associates – Growing “When we do an inspec- quence, highlighted by the our social media accounts and Health. to ensure all procedures are in Smiles clinic on Eramosa tion, we always inform the many patients commenting had a call centre in place to “The clinic operator is place, McKechnie said. Road. Public Health was urg- (RCDSO) and invite them to on social media on the closure help answer patient concerns. responsible for ensuring all “When they say they are ing those patients to get tested co-inspect with us,” McKech- of Guelph Dental Associates, We felt this was the best way to relevant monitoring systems ready for re-inspection, Public for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and nie said. “The college receives is that patients will take their reach as many patients as pos- are in place, that records are Health will ensure they meet HIV due to concerns that ster- all inspection reports from business elsewhere. sible before our letters could kept and available on demand all infection control require- ilization of dental instruments Public Health and can initiate “Why in the world would arrive.” from Public Health or the ments before reopening.” was not being done properly. their own investigations.” anyone ever go back to this The clinic was closed on In the case of Guelph Den- dental office again?” said one June 22 and remains closed. tal Associates, an investigation Facebook user, commenting The college’s statement has been ordered, said Marsh. on a Mercury Tribune story. calls cases like this “rare.” “That investigation is ongo- “It should stay closed However, the clinic is not the ing and there is no outcome permanently! I highly doubt ‘Dozens’ approach Oakville law first in Guelph to have been yet,” he said. anyone would be stupid closed this year because of Attempts to contact the enough to go back there,” said lapses in infection control dentists associated with the another. firm to launch class-action lawsuit standards, and a dentist in practice were not successful. For Julia Cathro-Oliver, Burlington had his right to Marsh said the responsibil- whose family of four has been against Guelph dental clinic practise suspended in June ity to make sure dental offices patients at the clinic for sever- in a situation where patients meet IPAC and Public Health al years, the situation has been Jessica Lovell tical claim,” Will said. were also being advised to dis- Provincial Infectious Disease a horrible ordeal. [email protected] In this case, the total damages could be $10 cuss HIV and hepatitis testing Advisory Committee stan- “These infections are life million, but what individuals may be entitled with their doctors. dards is something that every changing and as a mama, the A Guelph dental office closed in June due to to will differ depending on their situation. In the most recent cases practising dentist in Ontario is thought of my kids having infection control lapses may be the subject of a “If they’re infected, that claim is going to in Guelph, the inspections by well aware of. them is indescribable,” she class-action lawsuit. be in a whole different category” than that of Public Health and the subse- “There is the clear poten- said in an email. “It took four “The first step will be to see if the claim can someone whose tests came back negative, Will quent closures were prompted tial for significant penalty if adults to hold down my seven- be certified as a class action,” said lawyer Gary said. by complaints by members of the standards are not main- year-old to get his bloodwork Will, a partner with Will Davidson LLP and Public Health has called the risk of infec- the public. tained,” he said. done! I do not wish that pain, based out of the firm’s Oakville office. tion “low,” but was still encouraging patients “Public Health is not He added a dentist could anxiety and stress on anyone.” Will said the decision to launch the class- to get tested. authorized to inspect a dental be found guilty of professional She was also unhappy action lawsuit came after the firm was con- The $10-million figure is just an estimate, office unless a complaint is misconduct or incompe- with the way in which Public tacted by a number of patients of the Guelph said Will. made,” Brian McKechnie, tence, and penalties could Health dealt with the situation. Dental Associates – Growing Smiles clinic on The claim names four dentists the firm Eramosa Road. believes are associated with the Guelph Den- The clinic was closed down by Wellington- tal Associates practice, as well as a company Dufferin-Guelph Public Health June 22, and called Dr. Meikle Dentistry Professional Cor- on June 30, letters were mailed to some 3,600 poration. patients of the clinic advising them to speak The names differ from those listed by the with their doctors about testing for HIV and Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario as hepatitis B and C. dentists associated with the practice. WE BuY BATTERiEs! Those 3,600 patients are the potential “We’re still in the investigative stage,” Will WE BuY BATTERiEs! plaintiffs in the claim, Will said. said. They represent any patient who had a pro- The process to certify a class-action lawsuit cedure done at the clinic between Jan. 21, 2015 can take six months or longer, he said. and June 21, 2017, before the clinic was closed. Should the class action be certified, the law Will said the patients of the clinic might be firm will access the patient list and everyone entitled to damages related to the worry and on the list will be contacted advising them of stress of having to be tested for HIV and hepa- the certification and their options, he said. NOW OPEN SATURDAYS 8am-12pm No titis, but “their claims might be too small to The claimants do have the option to opt MiNiMuMs! pursue on an individual basis.” out, he said. oPEN sATuRDAYs In this case, a class action makes sense, he In the meantime, people are welcome to 8AM To 12PM! explained. contact Will Davidson with their questions at “A class proceeding is ideal for a case where 905-337-9568 or look for information on the every single class member has an almost iden- firm’s website at www.willdavidson.ca.