Dentist struck off for 'inexcusable' work on elderly couple

A dentist has been struck off for three years for the "grossly inadequate and totally inexcusable treatment" of an elderly couple.

Suresh Patel, former owner of the Kowhai Court Dental Centre in Whangarei, was found guilty of professional misconduct after a hearing by the Dentists' Disciplinary Tribunal last month.

The tribunal was told Joan and Victor Elson-White, of Whangarei, had more than $24,000 in dental work done by Dr Patel between January 1998 and December 1999.

The couple, both in their 80s, died last year but the case was pursued by their daughter, Libby Urbahn. Their deaths were not linked to their dental care.

The tribunal found Dr Patel provided unacceptable treatment to the "vulnerable" couple.

"The standard of care for the two elderly patients was grossly inadequate and totally inexcusable," the tribunal concluded.

Dr Patel had been before the disciplinary tribunal on four previous occasions and was twice found guilty of clinical incompetence.

"To practise in an incompetent fashion after having disciplinary findings against him relating to clinical matters on two previous occasions is completely unacceptable," the tribunal said. At the time Dr Patel worked on Mr and Mrs Elson-White he was being mentored under conditions of practice imposed after previous convictions.

Bruce Sanson, the owner of Kowhai Court Dental Centre, said all association with Dr Patel had ended when it was sold in 2000.

Dr Patel's lawyer, Harry Waalkens, said his client was devastated and surprised by the tribunal's decision. The High Court had granted him permission to keep working pending an appeal.

The tribunal heard evidence that Mr and Mrs Elson-White became very distressed when another dentist commented on the poor quality of their dental work.

Mrs Urbahn obtained written reports from two dentists and confronted Dr Patel, demanding he pay back the $24,000 to her parents.

She said Dr Patel readily admitted he had been out of his depth in undertaking the work on the couple and refunded the money.

She said after the decision that the complex bridge and crown work done for her parents meant they had to spend up to 40 minutes a day cleaning their teeth and visit a dental hygienist regularly.

"This caused considerable worry and heartache."

- NZPA