Dentists

The General Dental Council (GDC) Investigating Committee considers allegations of impaired fitness to practise.  It is composed of five experienced and trained members drawn from a panel.  It considers the evidence and decides whether to impose its own sanctions e.g. an advice or warning letter or to refer the matter to one of three Practice Committees for a full inquiry.  The Practice Committees are the Professional Conduct Committee, the Health Committee, and the Professional Performance Committee.  Which committee will hear the case depends upon the nature of the impairment alleged. 

The Investigating Committee may decide to refer the matter to the Interim Orders Committee (the IOC), for that committee to consider making an interim order, pending consideration of the matter by the appropriate Practice Committee.  The IOC may:-

• impose a suspension (up to 18 months with six monthly reviews)
• impose conditions (up to 18 months with six monthly reviews)
• decide that no interim order is necessary.

In the hearing before the relevant Practice Committee, which is normally in public, the evidence is presented and the Practice Committee considers whether the facts alleged are proved on the balance of probabilities (ie 51%).  It then determines whether the facts proved constitute an impairment of fitness to practise as a dentist and then, where appropriate, decides on what action is to be taken.  Action may include a reprimand, conditions being imposed on registration as a dentist for up to three years, suspension (with or without a review) for up to 12 months, or even erasure from the register. 

A decision of the relevant Practice Committee to suspend, impose conditions upon registration, or to erase a dentist from the register, may be appealed to the High Court within 28 days. 

A dentist erased from the register may apply to be restored to the register 10 months after the date of erasure where the complaint leading to the erasure was received by the GDC before 31.7.06. If the complaint was received after 31.7.06, the erased dentist can apply to go back onto the register 5 years after the date of erasure.

The dentist can be legally represented at the hearing of the Professional Conduct Committee considering the application for restoration.