A speech therapist is taking legal action against her dentist, claiming damages of £1 million (approximately ₹10,78,77,900) due to severe, ongoing pain following a wisdom tooth extraction. Alison Winterbotham, 55, alleges that her dentist, Dr. Arash Shahrak, caused irreversible damage to her lingual nerve during the procedure in November 2020. This injury has resulted in constant, debilitating pain in her tongue, significantly impairing her ability to perform her job as a speech therapist.
Winterbotham’s lawsuit contends that Dr. Shahrak did not adequately inform her of the potential risks associated with the surgery. According to Winterbotham, the pain she experiences is akin to a continuous burn, which intensifies with any attempt to speak. This persistent discomfort has severely impacted her professional life, making it difficult for her to speak comfortably and perform her duties as a speech therapist. She reports that she can only manage to see two or three counselling clients per day, as attempting to see more exacerbates her condition.
Dr. Shahrak, however, disputes these claims. He maintains that he provided thorough advice regarding the procedure and asserts that there were no indications that Winterbotham was a high-risk patient. The case is currently being reviewed by the High Court.
Winterbotham has expressed a deep desire to continue her career but finds her current situation challenging. Despite her efforts, she struggles with the increased difficulty of her job and has been unable to return to her full practice.
