Unregistered dentist prosecuted in Scotland
- Details
- Published: Monday, 18 November 2013 07:30
- Written by News Editor
- Hits: 2749
The General Dental Council (GDC), has helped to bring the first successful case in Scotland for practising while unregistered. The dentist, from Greece, said he had made a ‘stupid mistake’. Ronnie Barogiannis from Aberdeen appeared at the Sheriff Court on 28th August 2013 and pleaded guilty to a breach of Section 38 (1) of the Dentists Act 1984. He was fined £500.
It’s the first time a prosecution for the illegal practice of dentistry has been launched in Scotland. The case was brought by Police Scotland and the Procurator Fiscal, helped by the GDC.
Ronnie Barogiannis pled guilty to working without General Dental Council (GDC) registration at the Bridge of Don Dental Clinic and Research Centre, Aberdeen, after police were called in to investigate staffing arrangements. The police probe was launched at around the same time that NHS Grampian said they were contacting 900 patients of the surgery to warn them of a risk of blood borne infections given hygiene concerns raised during an inspection. Mr Barogiannis said he had applied to the GDC for his registration documents in advance of relocating to Aberdeen from his home country of Greece, but that he stepped in to help out in the early days of the surgery's opening before receiving his papers. He said he had paid around £600 to the General Dental Council in October 2011 while still living in Greece and in preparation of his move to Scotland.
Mr Barogiannis, 40, said: “This whole thing has been terrible. I made a stupid mistake and it has been a very difficult experience for me. I will have to start my career all over again. I am sorry about what has happened. I haven't worked as a dentist in more than two years but I made a mistake and it was wrong. You have to pay for your mistakes and then hopefully I can move on.” Mr Barogiannis, who said he qualified at Malmo University in Sweden, said he had been answering calls at reception since the case was brought to light. He said: "I have been sitting here in civilian clothes, just so no one can mistake me as a dentist."
You need to be logged in to leave comments.
Report