Posted: 7-Dec-2006 << BACK
A former member of the General Dental Council has likened the handling of the case of a dentist from Gwynedd infected with hepatitis C to a "witch hunt".
The health authorities wrote to 5,000 patients offering them various tests after the man was diagnosed with the disease, which over 1,000 accepted.
Brian Lux, president of the Dental Practitioners Association, questioned whether all the tests were necessary. The National Public Health Service said decisions were carefully considered.
The dentist, who is not being named, reported he was infected with hepatitis C in October 2005. Many past and present patients took tests, including ones for hepatitis B and HIV, although no evidence was found to link any infection to the man.
Mr Lux, who has been advising the dentist, said it was not necessary to screen for HIV and hepatitis B as well, and questioned whether the screening was necessary at all.
click here to read the rest of the article at BBC News Online
