Central Iowa dentist accused once more of incorrect sexual carry out

For the next time in 5 many years, a West Des Moines dentist is going through rates of poor sexual conduct.

The Iowa Dental Board has billed Dr. Phelan R. Thomas, whose observe is found at 4100 University Ave. in West Des Moines, with “improper sexual contact with, or earning suggestive, lewd, lascivious or improper remarks or advancements to, a affected person or a coworker.” The publicly accessible files give no sign as to when the alleged carry out took location or no matter if a client or personnel was included.

Thomas is also billed with unprofessional or unethical perform of some kind and with failure to comply with an buy of the board.

The distinct conduct that is alleged, and which gave rise to the prices, is redacted from the publicly available statement of expenses filed by the board.

Underneath a 2021 Iowa Supreme Court docket ruling, licensing boards can advise the community of the regulatory violations a licensee is accused of committing, but the perform that led to the prices currently being submitted need to be kept confidential until the case is fixed – a approach that can consider months or even years.

Thomas’ assertion of expenses references three separate scenario numbers that suggest they have been initiated in 2021 and 2022, suggesting the rates include far more than a person criticism or allegation. A disciplinary listening to is scheduled for Aug. 31.

In 2018, the board alleged Thomas experienced manufactured lewd remarks and improvements to females in his place of work. At that time, the board reported he had shown “a sample of generating incorrect remarks to and exhibiting inappropriate habits with woman clients and college students.”

Precisely, the board alleged Thomas made “improper advances to (dental) rotation students” and had a “relationship” of some variety with a affected person.

The board also alleged Thomas did not properly guard against bacterial infections, did not have on or improve gloves when suitable, used improperly loaded sterilizers and failed to have the necessary procedures in place to dispose of health-related squander and expired treatment.

The circumstance was settled when Thomas agreed to pay out a $1,000 wonderful and finish academic training in qualified boundaries. As section of the settlement agreement, he was barred from possessing any learners functioning in his business and was prohibited from staying on your own with female people at any time.

Thomas also agreed to instruction in infection command and to have his an infection-handle practices monitored at his clinic. In addition, his license was put on probation for 5 yrs.

The Iowa Money Dispatch was not able to attain Thomas’ legal professional for comment.