Dentists get 'good Samaritan' warning

Dentists could save lives in an emergency

Dentists have been warned that they could face disciplinary action if they do not come forward to help people who collapse in a public place.

There has been a long-standing obligation on doctors to be 'good Samaritans', and do what they can to help any seriously-ill person they encounter.

We are advising dentists to offer help to a critically ill member of the public in an emergency

Dr Rupert Hoppenbrouwers
Dental Defence Union

However, dentists are trained in resuscitation techniques in case someone suffers a collapse in their surgery - perhaps as the result of a reaction to anaesthetic.

And the Dental Defence Union - the body which insures dentists against negligence claims - has written to its members warning them they could face action if they do not try to help.

In the worst case, this might mean they could be suspended or banned from practising.

Dr Ruper Hoppenbrouwers, the head of the union, said: "Dentists are expected to keep up to date in resuscitation techniques and could use these skills if a patient was in need of urgent medical attention, say on a plane.

"In the light of the General Dental Council's advice, we are advising dentists to offer help to a critically ill member of the public in an emergency."

'High standards'

The General Dental Council does not explicitly say that dentists should offer help, but says: "The conduct of a dentist must at all time be compatible with the high standard which the public and the profession have a right to expect."

It suggested that this would be relevant if a dentist hung back when confronted with a seriously-ill patient in a public place.

As far as we know, no doctor or dentist has been successfully sued for offering good Samaritan assistance

Dr Rupert Hoppenbrouwers

The DDU also warns that there may actually be a legal obligation in some countries for any medically-trained personnel to offer assistance, for example in France.

Dr Hoppenbrouwers said: "Clearly, if there is someone else who has more up-to-date or relevant skills, the dentist can step back.

"As far as we know, no doctor or dentist has been successfully sued for offering good Samaritan assistance in the UK."

Burden of care

While most doctors are happy to give assistance whenever they are called to do so, a few have complained that medical emergencies, particularly during long plane flights, are now commonplace.

They have called for airlines to compensate them for their troubles, and to make sure planes are properly equipped with the resuscitation materials they need.

However, the General Medical Council guidance is unequivocal.

It states that in an emergency, regardless of the location, doctors should provide reasonable assistance.