Neville Kan found guilty of professional misconduct but cleared of more serious charges
A disciplinary hearing has cleared a Chiswick dentist of deliberately drilling away a woman's tooth because of an unpaid debt.
A patient from Putney, referred to at the hearing as "Mrs B" had visited the dentist 5 years ago and there was a £35 payment outstanding. When she returned after a filling came loose she was told by Neville Kan that she would need another filling. The General Dental Council heard allegations that Mr Kan who practices on Chiswick High Road bored away almost half of the tooth.
Mrs B. claimed that when she asked Mr Kan what he was doing his demenour changed and he said "Nothing lasts forever. I am not going to last foever..nothing in life is free you owe me money."
Mr Kan denied the charges and said that he had tried to explain the treatment he was undertaking. His legal representative said that Mrs B had misintrepreted his client's actions.
After a two day hearing Mr Kan was cleared of making intimidating and inappropriate remarks to the patient but guilty of serious professional misconduct for failing to explain in advance the intended treatment and its cost, not obtaining consent for his proposals, and not responding to the complaints of his patient.
He was also found guilty of �outmoded procedure� by not having an assistant to help with any emergency and risking cross-infection by not wearing gloves. The chairman of the council's professional conduct committee, said no further action would be taken as Kan had taken steps to remedy his errors. Mr Kan has been a dentist for more than 40 years.
July 21, 2003
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