Professionalism, privacy, and the perils of posting: Biju Krishnan shares some lessons from a GDC fitness to practise case in which a dental nurse was suspended for her online activity.
The recent GDC decision to impose an indefinite suspension on a dental nurse serves as a stark reminder of the serious consequences that can arise from lapses in professional conduct – particularly when they involve confidentiality, honesty, and digital behaviour.
The case in brief
In March 2020, the dental nurse in question posted videos taken within a healthcare setting – featuring both a patient and a GP – onto social media platforms without their consent. These actions, which occurred during the early and uncertain days of the COVID-19 pandemic, understandably raised concern and led to her dismissal from her post. Subsequent GDC investigations revealed further misconduct, including:
- Dishonesty about the extent of video distribution
- Explicitly abusive emails to the GDC
- A prolonged failure to cooperate with the regulator
- Complete disengagement from the process for more than three years.
Despite multiple opportunities to re-engage, reflect, and demonstrate insight or remediation, the registrant remained silent. With each review hearing – May 2022, November 2022, May 2023, and May 2024 – the Professional Conduct Committee (PCC) reiterated the same concerns. At the latest hearing in May 2025, the GDC concluded that indefinite suspension was now the only proportionate outcome.
A moment of reflection for the profession
This case underscores several key lessons for all dental professionals:
1. Consent is not optional – online or offline
The videos the dental nurse posted weren’t just unwise – they were a breach of confidentiality and dignity. Whether in surgery, the waiting room, or even adjacent public spaces, patients and colleagues have a right to privacy. In an age of social media, the lines between ‘personal’ and ‘professional’ can blur quickly – but the rules don’t change.
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2. Your digital conduct is a professional matter
Social media isn’t a no-man’s-land for registrants. Posting content that breaches professional standards, or behaving abusively online – especially toward regulatory bodies – reflects directly on your fitness to practise. The GDC’s stance is clear: unprofessional behaviour in digital spaces is no less serious than clinical negligence.
3. Insight and engagement matter
The committee made clear that the suspension was not just about the original misconduct – it was also about the registrant’s repeated failure to acknowledge or address it. Engaging with your regulator, demonstrating reflection, and showing genuine efforts to improve are all part of professional accountability. Silence speaks volumes.
4. Reputational harm is public harm
The GDC rightly pointed out that a well-informed member of the public would be ‘shocked and troubled’ if a registrant who showed no insight or remorse were allowed to practise. We cannot separate individual conduct from public confidence. Each registrant’s behaviour shapes the public’s perception of the profession as a whole.
Moving forward: guidance for dental teams
- Revisit your social media policy. Make sure all team members are clear on what can and cannot be shared
- Train your staff on data protection and the importance of consent in all contexts, including non-clinical interactions
- Encourage a culture of openness – where mistakes are discussed, not ignored, and reflection is part of professional growth
- If you are under investigation or receive correspondence from the GDC, engage. Even difficult conversations are better than silence.
Final thoughts
Professionalism doesn’t end when we clock out or pick up our phones. Trust in dentistry is built not only on clinical competence but on ethical behaviour and human respect. This case should prompt all of us to reflect – not to condemn, but to ensure that we stay on the right side of public trust, legal standards, and our own moral compass.
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