In a shocking case of professional misconduct, a dentist tried to fit a patient with a bridge in a McDonald’s restaurant in London.
The dentist, Anca Claudia Macavei faces being struck off after she attempted to carry out dental surgery in a McDonald’ss restaurant and then when the patient refused, in the hallway of the office where she had lost the right to practise.
Macavei now faces the end of her dental career after a General Dental Council committee found that her fitness to practice was impaired and suspended her. Miss Macavei is now appealing the decision to suspend her which was handed down in July 2014 at the High Court.
The Romanian dentist who had previously practised in Tavistock, Devon was living in London and advertising for Romanian patients. Patient 1 answered the advert but was under the impression that she would be receiving dental treatment in a dental practice, not a fast food chain.
Macavei was operating out of a Cannon Street Practice surgery on an “ad hoc basis”, but was asked to leave the practice after her relationship with the practice manager broke down. In spite of losing her spot at the practice, Macavei asked the patient to meet her in a McDonald’s restaurant where she then tried to fit her bridge. Patient 1 felt uncomfortable and refused. Upon refusal Macavei invited her back to the surgery and asked to fit the bridge again whilst they were stood in the hallway, lying to her client by saying she had lost the key to the office. Patient 1 still refused and made a complaint against the Dentist.
“Patient 1 was clear and specific in her evidence on this issue,” the committee said. “She stated that you tried to put bridges in her mouth whilst in the McDonald’s and, when she refused, you insisted that it was necessary to see if they would fit.
You confirmed that your access rights to the Cannon Street Practice had already been withdrawn by the time you met with Patient 1 at McDonald’s. The committee found that it was more likely than not that you did attempt a fitting of the bridges in that unsuitable environment. The committee was satisfied on the balance of probabilities that you also attempted to provide dental treatment to Patient 1 in the hallway outside the Cannon Street Practice.”
The case continues.
If you have been affected by poor dental work or have suffered due to dental negligence, contact the specialist dental negligence solicitors at The Dental Law Partnership today on 0800 0853 823 to get your dental negligence claim underway.