For immediate release: August 2, 2022 (22-116)
Contact: Sharon Moysiuk, Communications 360-549-6471
OLYMPIA – The Dental Quality Assurance Commission suspended the license and general anesthesia permit of Pierce County dentist Walter Foto (DE00008264, GA10000320) pending further legal action.
Charges state that an infection inspection and sedation audit showed that Foto failed to provide documentation showing that biological spore testing was conducted at least weekly when scheduled patients were treated; that there were numerous missing emergency drugs and no defibrillators; his assistant did not have adequate training to serve as an anesthesia monitor and that Foto treated at least 10 general anesthesia patients without an appropriately trained anesthesia monitor.
Foto cannot practice in Washington until the charges are resolved. He has 20 days to respond to the charges and ask for a hearing.
The legal documents on this case are available online by clicking Provider Credential Search on the Department of Health website; copies can also be requested by calling 360-236-4700. Anyone who believes a health care provider acted unprofessionally is encouraged to call this number and report their complaint.
The Dental Quality Assurance Commission protects public health and safety and promotes the welfare of the state by regulating the competency and quality of professional health care providers under its authority.
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