Hawaii dentist has medical license revoked

A Hawaii dentist has had his medical license revoked after a patient lapsed into a coma while getting her third molars extracted in March.

John Stover, DDS, MD, PhD, had his medical license revoked May 8 under an agreement reached with the Hawaii Medical Board, according to a KITV.com story.

The vote was seven in favor with one abstention, according to Danny Takanishi, MD, chairman of the medical board.

At least 27 complaints have been filed against Dr. Stover, according to the Hawaii consumer affairs office. However, the agreement between Dr. Stover and the medical board focused on six complaints involving professional misconduct or negligence, according to the story.

Dr. Stover has been the focus of regulators since Kristen Tavares, 23, went to his Hilo office on March 17 to have all four of her third molars extracted. She went into cardiac arrest and was flown to Maui Medical Center, where her family says she remains in a coma.

Tavares, the mother of a 4-year-old son and a 3-month-old baby, was healthy and had no medical problems, her family said. Her family has filed a malpractice lawsuit against Dr. Stover.

The Board of Dental Examiners is expected to take up the same agreement next week, which will likely result in Dr. Stover losing his dental license.

Revocation of Dr. Stover's Hawaii medical license will be forwarded to a national database, making it extremely difficult, if not impossible, for him to obtain a license in another state, according to the story.

Dr. Stover voluntarily has shut down his three offices on the Big Island, which were operating as Cosmetic Centers of Hawaii.