Two dental surgeons accused of neglecting a patient who suffered brain damage and died after routine jaw surgery have had their hearing adjourned.
Consultant dental surgeon Roger Bainton and his junior colleague Simon Duncan have denied charges of serious professional misconduct.
The hearing arises from an operation at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary in 1995.
Iain Duncan, from Aberdeen, suffered ventilatory and cardiac arrest two days later, which left him in a persistent vegetative state. He died six months later.
Lawyers for the two surgeons told the General Dental Council in London that they should be cleared of the charges.
Standard of care
Mr Bainton is said to have failed to visit Mr Duncan after the operation to ensure he received special nursing care.
Mr Duncan is similarly accused of failing to provide the patient with the high standard of care to which he was entitled.
Their lawyers said that although they may have been guilty of some negligence, it was not "serious professional misconduct".
The men expressed profound regret at Mr Duncan's death, but there was no case to answer, they added.
Following legal submissions, the council's professional conduct committee agreed to adjourn the hearing until December, when the two surgeons will present their case.