Dubai dentist gets off malpractice charge on a technicality

Syrian was accused of a botched operation on a Saudi woman, who ended up losing bones from her upper jaw.

DUBAI // A dentist accused of malpractice that caused a woman to partially lose bones in her upper jaw has been found not guilty on a technicality.

Dubai Court of Misdemeanors heard that on June 28, a female patient filed a report against Syrian MP, accusing him of malpractice.

In her testimony, the Saudi woman said that she had been suffering from dental problems for years before a friend recommended MP, who worked at a practice in Dubai.

On February 2, 2009, after going through all the necessary checks, she underwent a surgical procedure in the upper jaw to treat a complicated condition.

She claimed that she had not been told by MP that he was not a dental surgeon before carrying out the procedure, after which she suffered from an infection that caused her several complications, eventually leading her to lose bones in her upper jaw.

The Syrian told prosecutors that he had, in fact, informed the woman that he was not a surgeon and asked her permission for a surgeon to attend to his clinic while the procedure was being performed.

Records stated that a Swiss surgeon, identified as NJ, assisted in the surgery.

A medical report issued by the Medical Liability Authority stated that the inappropriate method of treatment was the reason for the woman’s complications, which resulted in her needing further surgical intervention.

However, the woman did not lodge her complaint within the five-year period after the date of the incident that is given to make such complaints. The five years ended on October 11 last year and her complaint came eight months after that date so the court found MP not guilty.