Dental groups settle Alaska Native lawsuit

Thursday, July 12, 2007  

The American Dental Association and the Alaska Dental Society have agreed to drop their lawsuit against an Alaska Native dental program and will lend their support to the program.

The groups sued the state of Alaska and the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, charging that the program puts Alaska Natives at risk. They wanted the dental aides to seek state licenses to practice in the villages.

A judge in Alaska rejected the claims last last month. The dentists agreed not to pursue an appeal and will instead donate $537,000 to the program and will help improve dental services in rural Alaska.

Get the Story:
Dental groups to settle lawsuit (The Anchorage Daily News 7/12)
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Court Decision:
Alaska Dental Society v. Alaska (June 27, 2007)

Relevant Links:
American Dental Association - http://www.ada.org

Related Stories:
Judge upholds Alaska Native dental program (06/28)
Lawsuit filed to stop Alaska Native dental aides (2/1)
Alaska dental care program stirs controversy (11/23)
Dental program seeks to help rural Alaska Natives (01/11)