Update: The verdict is out – Dentists have admitted in court that they were mistreated

The main defendant, a German-Syrian national, had opened an ordination as a private physician in Upper Austria in 2013. From then on, according to the indictment, he promised at least 150 patients high-quality crowns, which turned out to be temporary. In 113 cases he apparently also charged for treatments that he should never have performed. In addition, 14 of the 25 improperly treated patients developed serious complications. The brother, who is also on trial and as of 2016 worked with the main defendant in a cash register assignment, is said to have harmed the health of patients in 16 cases.

“Serious Assault”
In 2018, the first suspicion of assault came to light. A patient had received a dental implant in inflamed tissue. This was established by the second accused in the private ordination of the brother. This “severe abuse” meant that the patient had to undergo surgery at the hospital in Linz, the prosecutor explained. There was an onset of sepsis. The patient suffered nerve damage on one side of her face – “permanent damage”.

Police investigations showed that the “beating was not an isolated case,” the prosecutor stressed. After four and a half years of investigative work, the list of alleged misconduct was complete.

“Acted to the best of our knowledge and belief”
Even if both clients accept responsibility in principle for the negligent bodily injury, they “acted to the best of their knowledge and belief,” the defense attorney explained. The 46-year-old main defendant did not want to let go of the accusation that he had used inferior crowns but had used more expensive crowns. He has processed long-term supplies of a plastic-ceramic blend that is better than “ceramic crowns that become brittle.” He also informed the patients orally about this, he assured.

“Live Beyond My Means”
However, he has to admit that he charged social security funds for services not provided. With the two ordinations: “I lived beyond my means, then unfortunately I made the wrong calculations without thinking that this would also ruin my own future,” he said in court as a motive. He “deeply regrets having cheated the registers”. In 2018 he owed the “tax authorities 140,000 euros”.

Answered only to the judge
His brother, who was ten years his senior, also pleaded guilty to “grossly negligent bodily harm with sometimes serious consequences”. When the president of the jury asked about this, he replied curtly with “Yes”. Like his brother, he refused to answer questions from the prosecutor, lay judges and victims’ legal representatives who joined the proceedings as a private party with six-figure damages claims.

The judgement
Dre was first charged because of the Vof the serious and commercial fraud and thefelony of negligent bodily injury An Imprisonment for a period of 9 months and sentenced to 6000 euros. His brother for the offense of negligence attack on one Imprisonment of 6 months and a fine of 3600 euros. The prison sentences were suspended for a period of three years. The suspect, or their lawyer Klaus Ainedter, asked for reflection time, but the prosecutor has not issued a statement. The verdict is not yet final. The first defendant’s victims were referred to civil law due to pending insolvency proceedings, and his brother’s victims received small compensation.