STARR

Alireza Panahpour, D.D. S. Loses Another Malpractice Suit (2018)

In 2015, Alireza Panahpour, D.D.S.,was sued by Amy Starr. The complaint (shown below) alleged that: After referral from Dietrich Klinghardt, M.D., Panahpour performed several “cavitation” operation, during one of which he negligently severed a nerve to her lower left jaw, resulting in permanent numbness to the areas of her jaw that the nerve supplies. Ms. Starr consented to the operation because she was told that she had areas of infection in her jaw. However, a panoramic x-ray actually showed no infection in her mouth or teeth. Klinghardt was subsequently dismissed as a defendant, but the case against Panahpour went to binding arbitration. In 2018, the arbitrator awarded Ms. Starr $450,000 plus $21,975 for costs. Panahpour is part of a small network of practitioners who are …