School dental therapist’s registration cancelled

22 Dec 2016

A school dental therapist has had her registration cancelled after acting outside her scope of practice and providing inadequate or inappropriate treatment over a seven year period.

The Dental Board of Australia (the Board) referred Karen Fazey to the State Administrative Tribunal in Western Australia because of Ms Fazey’s performance and conduct 2004 when she was a school dental therapist at Endeavour Dental Therapy Clinic located at Endeavour Schools in Port Kennedy and between 2007 and 2014 when she was a school dental therapist at Narrogin Primary School.

Ms Fazey treated both adults and children during her time as a dental therapist.

The tribunal heard she provided treatment to 13 patients without any initial screen or examination of the patient or treatment plan being undertaken by a dental officer.

Ms Fazey also performed minor oral surgical treatment on two patients when she had not undertaken any formal education and training in the performance of oral surgical procedures.

The tribunal also heard Ms Fazey treated 49 patients without performing any or any adequate radiography of the patients' teeth, leading to inadequate treatment plans being prepared and or contributing to the early failure of the treatment provided.

She also undertook extensive treatment on 18 patients without consulting or seeking treatment advice from a dental officer or dentist or failed to comply with treatment advice provided by a dental officer or dentist.

It was agreed Ms Fazey’s diagnosis and treatment planning was substantially below the level expected of a dental therapist with her level of training and experience.

Ms Fazey has not practised as a dental therapist since she was suspended in August 2014 by the Board.

In October 2016, the tribunal ordered:

• a finding of professional misconduct
• a reprimand
• cancellation of registration
• disqualification for three years
• a fine of $3,000, and
• Ms Fazey pay the Board’s costs of the proceedings totaling $5,000.