Home > Publications > Selected Cases > Selected Investigations Completed December 2002March 2003 > Case no. E.1427/01-02
Complaint against a dental surgeon in the Watford and Three Rivers Primary Care Trust area
Summary of Case
Miss Z was told by Dr Y that she needed treatment for an abscess under a tooth, but that this could not be undertaken on the NHS. At her next routine appointment, Dr Y said that he could treat her abscess for a lower feeunder the NHS. Miss Z was concerned that this treatment might be inferior and declined the offer. Five months later, Dr Y extracted the tooth at the request of Miss Z. The Ombudsman found that treatment of Miss Z’s abscess would not have been straightforward because it was under a crown which would need to be removed. Whilst it was not unreasonable for Dr Y to decide that he could not proceed under the NHS, treatment could nevertheless have been provided under the NHS with the exception of replacing Miss Z’s white crown. There was a lack of transparency in the dealings Dr Y had with Miss Z and it was found that he did mislead her about the availability of NHS treatment, in breach of the regulations. The complaint was upheld.
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