WATSON: LAUGHING DENTIST LEFT PATIENT IN TEARS AFTER BRANDING HIM A ‘MOANER’

A dentist told a patient to shut up or ‘get the f*ck out’ when he complained of pain during treatment, a hearing was told today (Tues).

Keith Watson left the man in tears by laughing at him and branding him a ‘moaner’, it is claimed.

He is now facing the General Dental Council accused of ‘verbally aggressive and inappropriate’ behaviour .

The patient, known only as A, attended the Discovery Dental Practice in Dundee on April 13, 2010 to have decayed teeth replaced with dentures and fillings to his lower teeth.

Giving evidence, Mr A said the dentist pressed ahead with treatment despite his protests that he was in pain.

‘He gave me several injections and I tried to explain to him that it wasn’t working and I was still in severe pain,’ he said.

‘I had a metal device put into my mouth and I couldn’t really speak. I was trying to gesture to him.

‘But he and the nurse seemed to think it was funny I was in so much pain. I could see them laughing.

‘I couldn’t hear exactly what he said to her, but I think it was: “What a moaner.”‘

Watson is alleged to have told the patient: ‘If you don’t shut your puss, you won’t get any more treatment and you can get the f*ck out’.

‘Patient A stood up from the chair to remonstrate with Mr Watson, but the dental nurse pushed him back down,’ said Nimh Bruce, for the GDC.

‘He tried again and again was pushed back down.’

Mr A added: ‘I told him this was the worst treatment I have ever had in my life and asked him why I was in so much pain.

‘I told him the treatment was disgraceful and the pain was excruciating.

‘That’s when he said: “Get out, pay your f*cking bill and don’t come back.”‘

As Patient A left the surgery, Watson threatened to stamp on his new dentures, the panel was told.

‘Patient A felt upset and humiliated,’ said Miss Bruce.

‘When he came out of the surgery he was in a state of considerable distress and crying.’

On leaving the surgery he made a report to two passing police officers, but did not take the matter any further, she added.

Michael Mylonas, for Watson, suggested it was the patient who had been aggressive with his client.

He said Patient A, who has a criminal record stretching back to 1971 and including assault, ABH, theft, burglary and dishonesty offences, was not a credible witness.

Under cross-examination, he asked Patient A: ‘You were the one who tried to assault him, weren’t you?

‘You were the one who was prevented from assaulting Mr Watson by the practice nurse stepping between you as he was making an entry in your dental records.

‘That’s why you have lied about her conduct and suggested she pushed you and reported the matter to the police.

‘You thought you might be up on yet another assault charge.’

Patient A replied: ‘Nonsense.’

Watson, of (Flat 5, The Bond, 81) Seagate, Dundee, denies all the charges against him.

If found guilty of misconduct he could be struck off the dental register.

The hearing continues.

ends