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Woodland dentist defends chest massages as appropriate procedure
By Hudson Sangree - Bee Staff Writer
Published 1:43 pm PDT Thursday, October 11, 2007
A prominent Woodland dentist suspected of groping more than two dozen female patients tried to keep his license Thursday by arguing chest massages were an appropriate procedure in certain cases.
Dr. Mark Anderson appeared at Thursday's hearing before a state administrative judge to defend himself against the state dental board's attempt to suspend his license pending resolution of the charges against him.
His lawyer, Robert Zaro, told Judge Jonathan Lew that articles from dental journals discussed the need to "palpate" the pectoral muscles in cases of temporal mandibular joint disorder, or TMJ, a common jaw problem that can cause head and neck pain.
The chest muscles -- and perhaps even the calf muscles -- may be related to the disorder, Zaro said.
Zaro also urged the judge to consider allowing Anderson to return to his practice with two "chaperones," individuals who would shadow Anderson at his dental practice to make sure he does not inappropriately touch his patients.
Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Phillips argued Anderson represented a danger to the public and should not be allowed to practice.
He said Anderson had manipulated even his dental assistants so that they were either blind to his behavior or believed it to be acceptable.
A number of them submitted statements to the court saying they had never seen Anderson do anything wrong, the lawyer said.
At the end of Thursday's hearing, Lew said he would make a decision by Monday.
In addition to the administrative proceeding, Anderson faces two misdemeanor charges of battery and sexual battery, based on one woman's statements that he had reached into her shirt and touched her breasts.
The woman is also suing him.
Woodland police say 26 other women have come forward. The Yolo County District Attorney's office is investigating those cases and could file additional charges.
Anderson remains free on $10,000 bail.
By Hudson Sangree - Bee Staff Writer
Published 1:43 pm PDT Thursday, October 11, 2007
A prominent Woodland dentist suspected of groping more than two dozen female patients tried to keep his license Thursday by arguing chest massages were an appropriate procedure in certain cases.
Dr. Mark Anderson appeared at Thursday's hearing before a state administrative judge to defend himself against the state dental board's attempt to suspend his license pending resolution of the charges against him.
His lawyer, Robert Zaro, told Judge Jonathan Lew that articles from dental journals discussed the need to "palpate" the pectoral muscles in cases of temporal mandibular joint disorder, or TMJ, a common jaw problem that can cause head and neck pain.
The chest muscles -- and perhaps even the calf muscles -- may be related to the disorder, Zaro said.
Zaro also urged the judge to consider allowing Anderson to return to his practice with two "chaperones," individuals who would shadow Anderson at his dental practice to make sure he does not inappropriately touch his patients.
Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Phillips argued Anderson represented a danger to the public and should not be allowed to practice.
He said Anderson had manipulated even his dental assistants so that they were either blind to his behavior or believed it to be acceptable.
A number of them submitted statements to the court saying they had never seen Anderson do anything wrong, the lawyer said.
At the end of Thursday's hearing, Lew said he would make a decision by Monday.
In addition to the administrative proceeding, Anderson faces two misdemeanor charges of battery and sexual battery, based on one woman's statements that he had reached into her shirt and touched her breasts.
The woman is also suing him.
Woodland police say 26 other women have come forward. The Yolo County District Attorney's office is investigating those cases and could file additional charges.
Anderson remains free on $10,000 bail.