Uninsured dentists risk leaving patients up the creek without a paddle

The Medical Defence Union (MDU) today warned that the outdated system of dental insurance could mean patients harmed by negligent dentists would have no recourse to compensation.   

The current system does not require dentists or doctors to have insurance.  

Dr Christine Tomkins, Deputy Chief Executive of the MDU, the only medical defence organisation to provide members with a regulated clinical negligence insurance policy, said: “In the current medico-legal climate, with the cost of claims set to increase even more, as a result of a number of legal judgments and changes, we think it is wrong to allow discretionary indemnity for something as important as medical negligence claims.” 

The warnings came at the tail end of General Dental Council’s consultation on the requirement for professional indemnity for GDC registrants.