A shocking video circulating on social media has exposed staff members at a Knoxville, Tennessee dental office for mercilessly mocking a cancer patient's private diary while reading it aloud.
The footage, which appears to have been recorded and shared online by a giggling employee, shows a staff member of Premier Dental Group of Knoxville reading passages from a patient's journal to nearby colleagues.
The video shows employees laughing at the patient's thoughts on different treatment options and concerns about various procedures.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage, with many condemning the dental practice and calling for a boycott, KVUE reported.
Premier Dental Group of Knoxville posted an apology on Facebook, acknowledging the 'inappropriate video created and shared by some of our employees that addressed an individual's medical condition in a disrespectful and unprofessional manner.'
![The video shows employees laughing at a patient's thoughts on different treatment options and concerns about various procedures](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/08/13/20/88488385-13739723-The_video_shows_employees_laughing_at_a_patient_s_thoughts_on_di-m-42_1723576263665.jpg)
The video shows employees laughing at a patient's thoughts on different treatment options and concerns about various procedures
![The footage, which appears to have been recorded and shared online by a giggling employee, shows one staff member reading aloud passages from a patient's journal to two colleagues](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/08/13/20/88488377-13739723-The_footage_which_appears_to_have_been_recorded_and_shared_onlin-m-43_1723576282363.jpg)
The footage, which appears to have been recorded and shared online by a giggling employee, shows one staff member reading aloud passages from a patient's journal to two colleagues
However, the practice's profile disappeared shortly after the statement was published.
'We deeply regret this incident and the hurt has caused,' the practice wrote in the since-deleted apology, according to WBIR.
The group acknowledged the gravity of the situation and claimed to be investigating.
'We take this matter very seriously. We have initiated a thorough investigation into the incident and are taking immediate steps to address it. The employees involved have been addressed and we are reviewing our internal policies and training procedures to ensure that such an incident does not happen again.'
![In response, Premier Dental Group of Knoxville posted an apology on Facebook. The practice's account has since been deleted](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/08/13/18/88487667-13739723-image-a-20_1723568867028.jpg)
In response, Premier Dental Group of Knoxville posted an apology on Facebook. The practice's account has since been deleted
![In 2023, the practice agreed to pay around $1 million to settle a lawsuit over allegations of scamming the Tennessee's Medicaid program](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/08/13/18/88488007-13739723-image-a-21_1723568881696.jpg)
In 2023, the practice agreed to pay around $1 million to settle a lawsuit over allegations of scamming the Tennessee's Medicaid program
Some took to social media to blast the practice.
'It's pretty disturbing that these girls thought this was funny and to think they handle patients private information EVERYDAY,' one wrote. 'So there's no telling what they're doing with everyone else's personal information.'
This wasn't Premier Dental Group of Knoxville's first controversy.
In 2023, the practice agreed to pay around $1 million to settle a lawsuit over allegations of scamming the Tennessee's Medicaid program and potentially endangering patients through unqualified staff and unnecessary procedures, KVUE reported.