PEPPERRELL:DENTIST STILL FIT TO PRACTISE AFTER ADMITTING STRING OF ERRORS

A family dentist who admitted making a string of errors when treating 20 patients is fit to carry on in practise, a panel ruled.

Stephen Pepperrell repeatedly failed to make proper assessments of tooth decay at the Absolute Dental clinic in Kingsbridge, Devon, between 2002 and 2010.

He also did not keep full records, did not take radiographs when needed and wrongly prescribed antibiotics.

Pepperrell admitted failings in his treatment of 20 mostly elderly patients at a hearing of the General Dental Council (GDC)’s professional conduct committee.

But the committee decided that these admissions did not affect his fitness to carry on practicing as a dentist.

Pepperrell was described as a ‘dedicated practitioner with a long and unblemished record of patient care’ and that he felt ‘shame and remorse’ over his treatment of the patients in question.
 
He has also made extensive remedial efforts to address his failings through independently evaluated audits of his practice and a personal development plan.

Panel chairman Robin Heron told the dentist: ‘The number and pattern of failings in relation to the 20 patients, to which you admitted and the Committee found proved, showed a systematic falling short and serious departure from the standards expected of a registered dental practitioner.

‘In your oral evidence, you accepted that you were either unaware of or that you did not follow the relevant guidelines in relation to radiographs and use of antimicrobial agents.

‘In addition, you failed to give full information to patients to enable them to give informed consent as to the management of caries (tooth decay).’

The panel ruled that in his treatment of the 20 patients, Pepperrell had breach the GDC’s standards guidance, and that misconduct had taken place.

But the panel also decided that that although at the time of his failings, Pepperrell’s fitness to practice was impaired, that was no longer the case bearing in mind his efforts to address them.

Mr Heron said: ‘In your own evidence you have expressed shame and remorse publicly in this hearing and have provided ample evidence of the efforts you have made to remediate your failings.

‘The Committee has analysed very carefully the substantial evidence of your remediation. Overall, the Committee was very impressed with what you have done.

‘The Committee recognises that there are some circumstances where the misconduct is so great that despite successful remediation, public policy demands that regulatory intervention is necessary.

‘The Committee is ever mindful of the need to protect patients and the need to uphold proper professional standards and maintain public confidence in the profession.

‘It has concluded of its own judgment that a finding of impairment is not required in all the circumstances of your case.’

Pepperrell, who is currently registered at Brook House, South Milton, Devon, admitted a series of factual charges relating to 20 patients.
ENDS