Watchdog to rethink case of struck-off dentist

Nov 29 2008 by Neil Atkinson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A DENTIST who urinated in a sink at his Batley practice will have to wait to see if he can resume work.

A disciplinary body must consider again what punishment to mete out to Dr Alan Hutchinson, after a High Court upheld its finding that the dentist urinated into a surgical sink and went on to see a patient without washing his hands or wearing gloves.

The court heard that the incident had “shocked and appalled” a dental nurse.

But a judge quashed findings that Dr Hutchinson, 52, had used dental instruments to clean his fingernails and ears on the grounds that the case against him on that score was “a weak one”.

Because Dr Hutchinson partially won his appeal, the General Dental Council’s professional conduct committee must now decide whether the original decision to strike him off should be upheld, or whether a lesser penalty is suitable.