A major public health incident has occurred in Canada, where a dental clinic run by Chinese owners has been reported by a former employee for long-term violations in the sterilization procedures of medical instruments, potentially exposing nearly 900 patients who received treatment at the clinic to the risk of HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.
According to foreign media reports, the involved dental clinic, "Dr. George Chan Dentistry," is located in Brantford, Ontario. Authorities found 15 violations in the cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization processes for reusable medical instruments, and consequently ordered the clinic to cease operations in Nov. 2025. The dentist in question had already resigned in July of this year and lost his local practicing license.
Reports indicate that the incident came to light after a former employee of the clinic filed a complaint. Lyn Portelli, who previously worked as a receptionist at the clinic, told the media that on Oct. 28, 2025, while working, she noticed something unusual in one of the treatment rooms. The following day, she filed a formal complaint with the Grand Erie Public Health (GEPH) in southern Ontario.
She stated that on one occasion, when she happened to enter the treatment area, she discovered that a large number of instruments that had been claimed to be sterilized were placed directly in drawers without sealed packaging. Some instruments were also scattered around the treatment rooms, and she even found anesthetic agents that had expired for nearly 20 years. Investigative photos released to the public show that dental mirrors, probes, scaler tips, and other instruments were not properly stored and were reused in different areas, increasing the risk of cross-infection.
The public health authority stated that 884 patients who received treatment at the clinic between Nov. 3, 2021, and Nov. 3, 2025, have been notified and advised to undergo screening for HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. However, only about half have reported completing the tests so far, with several hundred still yet to take action. As a result, the authorities issued another public appeal on July 7, urging former patients who have not yet had blood tests to schedule their screenings as soon as possible.
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