A Hove dentist has been struck off after being found guilty of misconduct by the General Dental Council (GDC).
Ali Asghar Pourrezaei Akhlaghi, who practised at Cromwell Court, in Cromwell Road, Hove, did not attend a fitness to practise hearing, nor was he represented.
The GDC’s Professional Conduct Committee said: “The committee considered that Mr Pourrezaei Akhlaghi’s actions did place those under his care at unwarranted risk of harm and in some instances caused avoidable harm.
“It also concluded that his multiple acts of misconduct, dishonesty and his failure to comply with his regulator did bring the profession into disrepute through his misconduct.
“Further, by acting dishonestly Mr Pourrezaei Akhlaghi did breach fundamental tenets of the profession.
“This includes a breach of trust, abuse of position for financial gain and dishonesty.
“The committee considered that in the absence of insight and remediation there is a real risk that Mr Pourrezaei Akhlaghi is liable in the future to place patients at unwarranted risk of harm, bring the profession into disrepute, breach fundamental tenets of the profession and act dishonestly.”
The charges included: “That being registered as a dentist
“Between 27 February 2013 and 2 September 2014 you failed to co-operate adequately with the General Dental Council and, in particular, failed to respond adequately to correspondence from the General Dental Council.
“You failed to inform, adequately or at all, the primary care trust on whose dental performers’ list you were on at the material time that you were the subject of an investigation into your fitness to practise in respect of each investigation you had first been given notification of by way of a letter.
“In an application form signed and dated 3 August 2012 to be included in the NHS East Sussex Downs and Weald Primary Care Trust’s Dental Performers’ List you falsely represented that you were not at that time the subject of an investigation into your professional conduct.
“You failed to inform, adequately or at all, the National Health Service Commissioning Board that you were the subject of an investigation into your fitness to practise, of which you were first given notification by the General Dental Council.
“You failed to have adequate indemnity cover between 28 May 2013 and 26 September 2013 (and) between 22 October 2013 and 20 December 2013.”
Pourrezaei Akhlaghi was immediately suspended. Unless he exercises his right of appeal, his name will be struck off the register in about 28 days’ time.
