While i was flying home, The General Dental Council met to discuss the case against Robins dentist.The results of the hearing were as follows.


The Committee has decided that Mr. D******* should be summoned to attend a hearing by the Conduct Committee of the Council on a date to be decided for the following reason: -

• Failure to diagnose Mr. Read’s mouth ulcer and refer him for treatment in a timely manner.

The Conduct Committee determines whether a registrant’s fitness to practice is impaired and, if so, what action needs to be taken to ensure that patients are protected. The Committee can:

• issue a reprimand,
• impose conditions on a registrant’s registration for up to three years,
• suspend a registrant for up to twelve months, or
• erase a registrant for a minimum of five years

None of this will bring Robin back,but hopefully it may save some other poor soul.

Great news Liz, no one should have to go through what you and Robin had to endure, and if this case serves to raise awareness in the dental (and wider) community then hopefully lives will be saved and Robin's passing will not have been in vain. My father experienced a similar delay in diagnosis involving both dentist and maxfax consultant, but I'm still seething so won't post details yet!!
Best wishes, Sara

Thanks Sara
If just one life can be saved through this hearing,it will have been worth the time and effort it took to pursue it.

love Liz

Hello Liz,

From what you have told in the past I think this is the only decision the Committee could have made.

Whether innocent or negligent the dentist's failure to refer Robin timeously certainly contributed the the final outcome, although it would be difficult to say if death could have been avoided even with early referral. You are a Nurse and understand the risks both of the disease and treatment.

I know that you are not seeking "satisfaction" or "vengenance" but to be assured that this man is still competent to practice. We would all want that, there can be no winners but your action will as far as can be possible ensure that the Dentist's mistake is not repeated. I would doubt somehow that this particular Dentist would since Robin's case ever take a cavelier attitude to any patient with suspicious symtoms or displaying sores that were not responding to early treatment.

IT would be of interest to us all I am sure to follow this case through to its consclusion, please keep us informed. Alan

well Cookey I went to my GPs surgery at least 7 times as I can remember and saw diferent GPS who said oh take these pills!
Then had Appointment with my Dentist who saw the white lump and got me an Biopsy done at my Local Hospital, (The Whittington Higate Hill LondonxBEWARE!!) went back a week later and he "nothing wrong with you go home?

should I sue them at the time and for years after was to traumatised to do anything

I went home and went away and while on hols got lumps in my throat the rest is History I hope Paul

Hi Paul
Its a sad state of affairs when the sick and needy cant rely on the professionals to look out for them.I know every one can make a mistake,but when lives are at stake surely all professionals should come down on the side of caution,just like my dentist did last month when he saw something in my mouth he didnt like.Unfortunately too many people dont do anything about it,either because they dont know how or like yourself are too traumatised but in my case as soon as Robin was diagnosed my ferocious temper took hold and i needed a focus for the anger and fear that came with the diagnosis.As soon as we returned from the hospital i went round to the dentist and demanded an explanation for his apparent lack of care.
Rob and i discussed the matter and he was very very bitter about the dentist,so we lodged a complaint. This had the affect of giving me an outlet for my frustration,i wanted him to be punished and to stop him from ever putting anyone else through such a terrible ordeal.

Its now a year since the initial complaint,and Rob has been gone for nearly six months and at last someone has acknowledged that i could have still had my husband here if this man had done his job properly.

No money is involved its purely a professional investigation into the dentists competency,and hopefully saving someone elses life.

yes well one mistake but its always me,must have MUG on my brow

Glad things are moving on Liz,
Lets hope he hasn't made the same mistake with anyone else i the mean time!
My god ol' G.P. managed to miss the 4" tumour i had coming down my nostril for about 6 months. Funnily enough the anti-biotics he perscribed didn't cure my cancer!
It seems many of us were not diagnosed correctly to begin with. & these people should be held accountable and made aware of there mistakes - think we had this discussion before...

When will you get the results of the committee hearing?

Hi Chelle hows the practising going sweetie,or is that on the back burner while you get the business and the wedding sorted?

I dont know how long it will be till we get the final part of the hearing,but it feels good to know that someone took notice of our complaint.

love liz

Too right they should take notice!!
Is the dentist aware of the concequence of his negligence?

Still practising... a little....

The GDC does take matters seriously:
GDC > General public > Fitness to Practise Hearings > Recent hearings

Dear Vinod
thankyou so much for that link.It has clarified for me the final stage of the process in our complaint against Robins dentist which i found a little confusing in the letter i received following the hearing last week.
He now has to appear before the conduct committee for his judgemant,after the fitness to practise committee found him guilty of failing to recognise and refer Robins condition in a timely manner,but i wasn't sure what this committee actually did .
thanks again Liz

Dearest Liz,
I have not been posting anything here as I have no clue how things work over there. However, reading all the posts has give me an idea of what happened and what is due to happen. I am glad the one who was responsible for making you unhappy is getting the boot - and I hope he gets it really hard.
Take care and lots of love and xxx,
Ananth

Thanks sweetie.My internet is down and i am at lynnes borrowing hers for a few minutes.

will hopefully be up and running in the next few days.