What happens to the dental practitioner and clinic after the Complaints Committee completes its inquiry?
After the Complaints Committee (“CC”) completes its inquiry, it may:
Dismiss the complaint;
Issue a letter of advice to the dental practitioner;
Issue a letter of warning;
Make such other orders as it thinks fit (e.g. having the dental practitioner to attend specific courses or undergo further practical training); or
Order a formal inquiry to be held by a Disciplinary Committee or a Health Committee.
Please note that the SDC can only mete out disciplinary action against a dental practitioner and cannot provide the following outcomes that complainants may be seeking:
Monetary refund to a patient or reduction in a bill;
Compensation/damages for any harm caused as a result of a dentist’s misconduct or negligence;
Retrieval of dental records on your behalf;
An explanation from the dentist(s) or oral health therapist(s) with regards to a treatment or procedure;
An order that the dentist(s) perform a particular procedure or offer a certain treatment;
An apology from the dentist(s) or oral health therapist(s) to you and/or the patient;
Revocation of the license of the dentist(s) or oral health therapist(s); and
Criminal sanctions (e.g. imprisonment) against the dentist(s) and/or oral health therapist(s); and/or
Sanction against the clinic.