A senior dentist who owns surgeries across the north-east is facing fresh allegations of misconduct.
John Mark Donaldson – the group practice owner of Peterhead-based Balmoor Dental Surgeries – has been ordered to appear at a General Dental Council (GDC) hearing later this month.
He faces a string of allegations centred on clinical care, record keeping and a failure to obtain informed consent from an unnamed patient.
Mr Donaldson practices at Queen Street Dental Centre but also manages practices in Aberdeen, Ellon and Elgin.
He faces charges that he “did not obtain informed consent for the treatment” that was provided to a patient, known only as Patient A.
Papers provided to the GDC panel reveal the fresh allegations relate to record keeping and assessments carried out on Patient A between April 2007 and March 2011.
The practice committee of the GDC will hear allegations that Mr Donaldson failed to adequately discuss the ramifications and risks of procedures with his patient.
The papers contain claims the dentist failed to diagnose a fragment of retained implant in the patient, and “produced a poor standard of dental treatment regarding implants”.
It is alleged record keeping of the patient’s condition was also inadequate, and that Mr Donaldson did not record the clinic justification for the extraction of Patient A’s remaining teeth in July 2007, or the anaesthetic which was used during the procedure.
The GDC will determine whether Mr Donaldson’s fitness to practice as a dentist has been impaired by his treatment of the patient.
The August 24 hearing in London will not be the first time the dentist has faced allegations of professional misconduct.
In July last year he admitted failing a patient following a series of similar allegations.
But the GDC took into account that Mr Donaldson had been described by other patients as a “caring and dedicated” dentist and had “taken steps to address his “deficiencies” and he was allowed to continue working.
A profile of Mr Donaldson on the surgery’s website says the dentist “regularly attends postgraduate courses” and has been appointed as a trainer and mentor in the NE Scotland Vocational Training Scheme seven times.
He declined to comment last night.
The four practices managed by Balmoor Dental Surgeries are Queen Street Dental Centre in Peterhead, Ythan Bridge Dental Centre in Ellon, Northfield Dental Centre in Aberdeen and Bishopmill Dental Centre in Elgin.
A GDC practice committee will consider the charges against Mr Donaldson at a hearing in London on Monday, August 24.