A dentist has been suspended for 12 months after making ‘sexually motivated’ comments to an elderly patient.
In 2020, reports were received by the GDC regarding the dentist’s behaviour towards colleagues and patients, including a complaint directly from a patient.
The Professional Conduct Committee heard how he treated one 77-year-old patient, known as Patient A, who attended as a walk-in with pain following a denture appointment.
It was proved that he shouted at the patient before saying, ‘I’m good at my job and I’m also very good in the bedroom’ or words to that effect.
He also grabbed the patient and kissed her cheeks.
The dentist denied that he shouted and that he kissed the patient, with the report reading: ‘You stated that it was a massive shock when you received a letter of complaint from Patient A. You stated that you shook Patient A’s hand and gave her an air kiss in a peaceful and friendly way.’
However, the committee found the charge proved, stating that Patient A’s evidence was ‘consistent and credible’.
The GDC also found that the comment and kiss were sexually motivated, reporting: ‘…there is no reason to make a comment like this other than for sexual gratification.
‘The Committee considers that in the context of the power imbalance of the dentist–patient relationship, this may have created a context in which a sexualised comment could readily be made.’
No response
The dentist also admitted that he obtained the mobile number of another patient, known as Patient B, from the practice file without her permission.
He then sent her a number of text messages including, ‘You can always come to my house tonight for a private emergency exam! Ha ha!’ with a winking face emoji.
He then sent: ‘Hey apologies, if I offended you with my comments…I’m looking after my little one, [name], tonight as the older one is doing a Stranger Thing exhibition with her mum in London. Just bored as f*** here! Putting her to bed soon. Didn’t mean to make things awkward. Text me later if you are in the mood.’
He then text: ‘You wanna kill me with your silence [name]!? Cause you are!’ followed by a sweating emoji. The following morning he sent a series of texts to Patient B apologising for offending her, describing it as a ‘stupid moment of madness’.
There was no response from Patient B to these texts.
Inappropriate and unprofessional
Complaining to the police, Patient B said: ‘I feel very concerned about the contact, and upset that a man who I have trusted as my dentist, has looked up my personal number and sent me these messages.
‘I also feel really worried that he now has access to my address and other personal details. I do not feel that I can now go back to the surgery to continue my treatment because of what has happened, and I now have been left in a very vulnerable position mid treatment.’
It was admitted and found proved that the conduct was inappropriate and unprofessional.
However, the dentist denied that the actions were sexually motivated. But the committee found this ‘manifestly sexually motivated behaviour’, especially when considered alongside his behaviour towards Patient A.
The dentist was suspended for 12 months, with a review hearing due to take place before the expiry of the suspension.
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