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Professional
Conduct/Discipline
The SDTA has the responsibility of ensuring safety of the
public by regulating the profession of dental therapy in the
province of
Saskatchewan. If you have a concern regarding the conduct of a
dental therapist it is recommended that you contact the dental
therapist in question to discuss your concern. This alone may
help to resolve you’re the concerns.
If this does not resolve your concern you can contact the
Executive Director of the SDTA. The Executive Director may be able to resolve minor
issues or misunderstandings. If not and you would like to make a
formal complaint you will be asked to fill out a
SDTA Complaint
Report. In order for the SDTA to proceed with your complaint we
required that you complete and sign the AUTHORIZATION TO PROCEED
and the AUTHORIZATION TO RELEASE INFORMATION sections of the
form.
The more information you can provide, the easier it will be
for the SDTA to look into your complaint. If you need assistance in
filling out the form, contact the Executive Director.
Once we have received the completed form and all necessary
information, it will be
forwarded to the Professional Conduct Committee. The Professional
Conduct Committee is responsible for investigating complaints. The
Committee is comprised of a minimum of three members of the
Saskatchewan Dental Therapists Council (including one public
representative). A copy of your complaint will be forwarded to the
dental therapist along with a letter requesting their
response/explanation of the complaint. You will be notified of
their response/explanation.
The Committee will conduct a thorough review. Once their
review is complete they may determine the following actions:
-
The dental
therapist is not at fault and the standards of practice of the
profession were maintained;
-
The matter
should be dismissed, giving reasons in writing;
-
A resolution
may be achieved to the mutual satisfaction of both parties;
-
The member may
be required to appear before the Professional Conduct Committee
to be cautioned;
-
The matter may
be referred to the Discipline Committee for action if sufficient
evidence was found to suggest the dental therapist was suffering
from physical or mental incapacity;
-
There is
sufficient evidence to support allegations of professional
misconduct or incompetence and refer the matter to the
Discipline Committee of the Council to hold a formal hearing (A
discipline hearing is like a trial, where the Council acts as a
prosecutor. Dental therapists are usually represented by
lawyers, and as the complainant, you could be called as a
witness to testify about the care you received).
Under the Dental
Disciplines Act the SDTA cannot seek compensation on behalf of
patients. The SDTA may in the process of resolving the complaint
may recommend the payment for dental therapy services be refunded.
However the dental therapist is under no obligation to accept such a
recommendation. The SDTA does not have the authority to order
compensation or damages due pain, suffering or out-of-packets
expenses.
If a settlement
cannot be reached the complainant may seek legal advice from hi/her
own lawyer. Civil litigation may then be necessary. |
