Legal News
Negligent Foreign Dentists Escape Compensation Claims (6 December 2011)
Date: 06/12/2011
An increasing number of dental patients are losing out on the compensation they deserve, as negligent foreign dentists flee back to their home countries to avoid compensation claims. According to recent figures, one in four General Dental Council registered dentists qualified abroad. Yet the body lacks the power required to provide justice to those who have suffered from inadequate dental work. One Polish national dentist fled to his home country following inflicting several thousand pounds worth of damage to patients in the UK. Dentist, Piotr Tadeusz Reichel, has been suspended from the Genera Dental Council’s register; the complaints against him are currently under investigation.
Philip Winslow, 57, received dental treated from Dr. Reichel in 2009, yet Dr. Reichel failed to spot that Mr. Winslow was suffering from gum disease and conducted the treatment in the absence of resolving the problem. Mr. Winslow claimed that upon receiving a second opinion, it was found that his bone levels were unsuitable for implants and that corrective treatment would cost in the region of £16,000. Delia Owens, 53, also received implants from Dr. Reichel. His dental work left her in severe pain and on returning to the practice, Ms. Owens was informed that Dr. Reichel had left the practice. Personal injury compensation lawyers have called upon the General Dental Council to better protect dental patients by disclosing the details of dentists’ insurance policies.
Duncan Lewis’ personal injury solicitors are able to fight for compensation payouts on behalf of clients who have suffered from defective dental work.