Panel hearing summary 2020.0876

Decision of the Dental Board of Australia

Performance and professional standards panel 

Jurisdiction: South Australia
Date of Decision: 25 November 2019

Classification of Notification

Clinical Care - Inadequate or inappropriate testing or investigation Documentation - Health record - Inadequate or inaccurate or misleading

Summary

The Board referred allegations that the Practitioner, who was an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, failed to adequately examine and investigate a persistent mouth ulcer which was subsequently diagnosed as a squamous cell carcinoma and that he had also failed to maintain adequate clinical records.

The allegation in respect of the Practitioner’s inadequate clinical care was unable to substantiated. In respect of this allegation, the Panel found that there was no case to answer and decided that no further action should be taken.

The Panel found that the Practitioner had failed to maintain adequate clinical records. The Practitioner conceded that his record keeping was below accepted standards. The Panel found that the Practitioner’s poor record-keeping constituted unsatisfactory professional performance. The Practitioner was cautioned and conditions were imposed on his registration requiring that he submit to regular audits of his clinical records.