| Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,940 "OCF across the pond" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | OP "OCF across the pond" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,940 | Robs dentist is back in court to have a review of his one year supervision order.I was asked if i would like to comment on him being returned to full practise and i have posted my reply. This man got off way to lightly and he is about to carry on as if nothing happened.I wish it was that easy!!!!!
-------------------------------------------------------------- "When my husband attended Mr. Dhamecha�s dental practice he was entitled too expect the best treatment and advice available from the information he provided. Despite him telling Mr. Dhamecha that he had had a sore on his tongue for several weeks and his denture being unwearable because it was broken Mr. Dhamecha diagnosed the ulcer as traumatic. When the new denture was fitted Robin was told to return if it gave him any problem. He was not told to return if the ulcer did not heal and he was not given a further appointment for the dentist to check on it, as I believe he should have been.
In the committees ruling it was decided that it was quite acceptable for Mr. Dhamecha to assume the ulcer was traumatic and it was also decided that due to his previous good record and the testimonials of a few satisfied patients it was also acceptable to give him the benefit of the doubt about his version of the story.
Considering that two hours before the hearing was due to start, by his own admission Mr. Dhamecha was proved beyond any doubt to have been lying throughout the 18 month investigation by the GDC and has also been seen to have altered records concerning my husbands visits, I see absolutely no foundation for this decision to give him so much consideration.
Information regarding guidelines for dentists on the early detection of Oral Cancer is freely available to health professionals and the general public and statistics about the importance of early detection and diagnosis are well documented. My husband�s chances of surviving his cancer were immediately reduced by 50% once his secondary tumour appeared in November of 2006, just 4 weeks after his last appointment with Mr.Dhamecha, and I find the assumption that the six month delay in diagnosis had no direct effect on his chance of survival to show a level of disregard for medical evidence that is beyond belief.
Robin�s primary tumour on his tongue was very small and could have been easily dealt with in June or July of 2006 giving him a good chance of a full recovery. The secondary tumour in his parotid gland, which developed over the following 5 months, was already 5cm by the time it was removed. This was the site of his recurrence just a few weeks after completion of his treatment, and ultimately the cause of the agonizing death he experienced.
Robin and I put our complete faith in the General Dental Council and it was as a result of their long and painstaking investigation that Mr. Dhamecha appeared before you. I would doubt if so much time and money would have been spent if they were not completely satisfied that Mr. Dhamecha had a serious case to answer and I am sure that they feel as strongly as I do that we were seriously let down by your decision.
I personally find it baffling that the committee appeared to attach greater weight to the character references they received on Mr. Dhamecha�s behalf, than to the substandard care my husband received, his poor record keeping and the fact that by his own admission he had lied in his evidence regarding the October appointments. I am also very concerned that the committee accepted much of Mr.Dhamechas evidence as truthful in spite of the fact that he admitted he had lied.
In light of these issues I believe his fitness to practice continues to be impaired and I do not feel that the sanctions issued by the committee in 2008 reflect the seriousness of the matters raised and the shortcomings in Mr.Dhamecha�s conduct which were identified. I do not accept that Mr.Dhamecha poses no risk and I note from the GDC decision when considering the issue of impairment and fitness to practice account must be taken of
�The need to protect the individual patient and the collective need to maintain confidence in the profession as well as declaring and upholding the proper standards of conduct and behavior which the public expect and the public interest includes amongst other things the protection of patients and maintenance of public confidence in the profession.
In my opinion Mr.Dhameca�s well documented conduct is likely to reduce public confidence in the profession and this will be further reduced by what I consider to be wholly inadequate sanctions. The fact that Mr.Dhamecha chose at the last minute to �fall on his sword� should have carried no weight in this decision. "
This is the statement of Mrs. Isabella Hamilton Read Dated July 31st 2009
Last edited by Cookey; 09-02-2009 12:56 AM.
Liz in the UK
Husband Robin aged 44 years Dx 8th Dec 2006 poorly differentiated SCC tongue with met to neck T1N2cM0 Surgery and Radiation.Finished TX April 2007 Recurrence June/07 died July 29th/07.
Never take your eye off the ball, it may just smack you in the mouth.
| | | | Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 453 "OCF Down Under" Platinum Member (300+ posts) | "OCF Down Under" Platinum Member (300+ posts) Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 453 | Oh Liz, let's hope he doesn't get away with this. Congratulations on such a well written statement though. Surely they will take notice of this. I will be thinking of you and hoping for the best outcome for you.
Wife to Steve 43. DX 5 May 09. T4N2MO SCC tongue, floor of mouth, lymph nodes & jaw bone No surgery Teeth removed 06/07/2009 radiation 13/07/2009 x 7wks chemo 15/07/2009 x 3 Cisplatin last TX 28/08/2009 25/11/2009 PET-lymph node activity. 08/01/2010 CT Scan-ALL CLEAR 03/03/2010-Peg removed 01/2013 left side of Jaw removed and replaced with pectoral flap. 23/12/2020 scan show lesion in tongue 01/2021 SCC stage 3 base of tongue diagnosed 01/03/2021 chemotherapy started.
| | | | Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,940 "OCF across the pond" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | OP "OCF across the pond" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,940 |
Liz in the UK
Husband Robin aged 44 years Dx 8th Dec 2006 poorly differentiated SCC tongue with met to neck T1N2cM0 Surgery and Radiation.Finished TX April 2007 Recurrence June/07 died July 29th/07.
Never take your eye off the ball, it may just smack you in the mouth.
| | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | As always Liz, you have the command of the English language and put thw words exacty in order,
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April. --- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
| | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 |
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,244 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,244 | Liz
No way should a medical professional in the UK get away with killing a patient.. Some times our wheels grind slow, but we here always expect 100% from our practitioners, medical or Dental.
Don't let up lady Sunshine.. love and hugs Helen
SCC Base of tongue, (TISN0M0) laser surgery, 10/01 and 05/03 no clear margins. Radial free flap graft to tonsil pillar, partial glossectomy, left neck dissection 08/04
| | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 | Liz,
You have done a spectacular job of making your case. There's no question that this guy is a disgrace to my profession and his punishment is much less than he deserved. Even if you remove the malpractice from the equation, the fact that he modified his records, would have been enough for him to probably lose his liscense in the states.
I hope justice is done this time around.
Good luck.
Jerry
Jerry
Retired Dentist, 59 years old at diagnosis. SCC of the left lateral border of the tongue (Stage I). Partial glossectomy and 30 nodes removed, 4/6/05. Nodes all clear. No chemo no radiation 18 year survivor.
"Whatever doesn't kill me, makes me stronger"
| | | | Joined: May 2008 Posts: 357 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | Platinum Member (300+ posts) Joined: May 2008 Posts: 357 | Good luck, Liz! The guy is a disgrace to his profession. Marlene
Marginal mandibulectomy 6/17/08 resulted in DX of Stage I SCC - gingiva (3 mm) right mandible, buccal side. Clear margins. Occasional social drinker. Smoked last cigarette in 1979. Clear pet: 12/08; 7/20/09. Yay!
| | | | Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,844 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,844 | Good luck Liz, you are one badass gal, keep on it!
Young Frack, SCC T4N2M0, Cisplatin,35+ rads,ND, RT Mandiblectomy w fibular free flap, facial paralysis, "He who has a "why" to live can bear with almost any "how"." -Nietzche "WARNING" PG-13 due to Sarcasm & WAY too much attitude, interact at your own risk.
| | | | Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,940 "OCF across the pond" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | OP "OCF across the pond" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,940 | For anyone interested in what is happening in the case this link will take you too the GDC page then click on the dentists name.Reading it all 1 year on just gets my blood boiling all over again.The legal profession really do like to "blur" the edges with their complicated jargon don't they? Nalin Dhamecha review of hearing
Last edited by Cookey; 09-02-2009 11:48 PM.
Liz in the UK
Husband Robin aged 44 years Dx 8th Dec 2006 poorly differentiated SCC tongue with met to neck T1N2cM0 Surgery and Radiation.Finished TX April 2007 Recurrence June/07 died July 29th/07.
Never take your eye off the ball, it may just smack you in the mouth.
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