A dentist who falsely claimed to patients he had cancer when they raised concerns about cancelled appointments, delayed treatments and requests for refunds has been found guilty of professional misconduct by a fitness-to-practise inquiry.
Dr Thomas Munroe admitted the facts of allegations made by seven patients at the Dental Council inquiry, before being censured and subjected to strict restrictions on his practice by the High Court last Monday.
The allegations set out by the regulatory authority detailed how Munroe had falsely claimed on multiple occasions between September 2020 and March 2022 that he had “very serious cancer” and was undergoing treatment.
The false claims were made in text messages, emails and direct communications to five patients who had sought refunds or challenged him over cancelled appointments and prolonged treatment delays.
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The Dental Council inquiry also established clinical and administrative failures in the care of all seven patients, including failure to provide implant and veneer treatments in a timely manner.
Munroe also failed to provide written treatment plans or cost estimates, failing to arrange emergency care for a patient in pain, and failure to release patient records upon request.
He was also found to have made retrospective, inaccurate additions or amendments to patient files without noting that the entries were retrospective, as well as failing to retain X-rays and radiographs, as required.
Munroe admitted the facts of the allegations and accepted that his actions had constituted professional misconduct, according to documents published by the Dental Council. The fitness-to-practice committee determined that the allegations were proven beyond reasonable doubt.
At a meeting on May 21st, the Dental Council confirmed the committee’s findings and decided to censure Munroe and impose conditions on his practice. The decision was formally executed by way of a High Court order on Monday.
Under the court-ordered conditions, which will remain in place for at least three years, Munroe must retain Dr Stuart Lutton or another council-approved specialist to act as his supervisor for implantology.
He is required to undergo a multiphase return to practice, beginning with a minimum 12-month period of direct supervision for at least two full working days per week, complete 75 hours of structured continuous professional development in implant dentistry, and submit to regular two-monthly reports to the Dental Council.
The conditions further stipulate that Munroe cannot practise implantology as a sole practitioner without prior council approval, must work exclusively in a group practice unless authorised otherwise and must notify the Dental Council within seven days of any patient complaint received regarding his clinical practice or conduct.
