Veil row dentist found guilty

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Dr Omer Butt, registered in Prestwich, Greater Manchester, received an admonition following a three-day disciplinary hearing of the General Dental Council in London in which he was found guilty of discriminating against the woman named only as Ms A.

Stewart Goulding, chairman of the GDC professional conduct committee, told Dr Butt that his conduct had fallen short of the standard expected of a dentist in that he had not put the interests of patient A first on April 18, 2005.

But he said the committee had noted testimonials from patients and mitigation that he had put before them. The committee had also heard there had not been any previous disciplinary hearings against him, he said.

Concluding the case, he said: "In deciding on sanction the committee has considered the options available starting with the least serious. The committee is satisfied that the appropriate decision is to conclude the case today with this admonition.

"As a member of a caring profession, a dentist has a responsibility to put the interests of patients first. The professional relationship between dentist and patient relies on trust and the assumption that a dentist will act in the best interests of the patient.

"In the light of the committee's finding of facts, it is apparent that on April 18, 2005 your conduct fell short of the standard expected of a dentist in that you did not put the interests of patient A first. The effect of your actions on this occasion was to impede patient A's access to local dental services."

The finding of serious professional misconduct came after the committee earlier ruled that Dr Butt was guilty of telling patient A words to the effect that, in order to receive treatment from him, she needed to wear appropriate Islamic dress.

The committee also ruled that he had told Ms A that if she did not wear a headscarf, she would need to register with another dentist.

The dentist was found guilty of undermining public confidence in the dental profession by discriminating against Ms A, a non-practising Muslim, in seeking to impose an Islamic dress code on her in order for treatment to be provided by him.