B.C. dentist suspended, fined $30K over unnecessary treatments, inappropriate sedation

A dentist in Abbotsford, B.C., has been suspended and fined after admitting he mistreateda number of his patients, by chargingthem for "excessive" servicesthey didn't need and giving them sedation he wasn't qualified to give.

Dr. Kyle Nawrothas beenbanned from dentistry for nine months after providing patients with treatments that were "unnecessary,excessive, inappropriate, and/or not supported by a diagnosis," according to the provincial regulator overseeing dentists in B.C.

A notice posted by the College of Dental Surgeons of B.C. onMonday saidinvestigators with the college took issue withtreatments Nawrot provided to 21 different patients.

"The college investigated ... and identified concerns with Dr. Nawrot's ethical and clinical practices," the notice read.

Professional misconduct

The investigation began after the college received three complaints about Nawrot between May 2016 and August 2017, according to the notice.

The college ultimately found half a dozen examples of professional misconduct. In addition to the needless treatments, the notice said,Nawrot"administered sedative agents that went beyond minimal sedation (which he was not qualified to provide)."

Nawrot also billed inappropriately for treatments and tried to claiminsurancefor the gratuitoustreatments.

The dentist, who owns his own practice,has since signed an order with the collegeadmitting to his behaviour and agreeing to the penalties, avoiding a weeks-long hearing.

He wasfined $30,000 as a penalty and ordered to pay $4,000 to cover the costs of the college's investigation.

Nawrot has also been ordered to completean education and remediation program before he returns to work, which includes a knowledge assessment with a mentor and pre-clinical refreshers on "tough topics, ethics and boundaries" and branchesof dentistry.

If he returns to work, he will also be forbidden from sedating patients until he completes a course, finds a mentor and has the college inspect his office.