The Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal has found charges laid by the Health and Disability Director of Proceedings against Dr Gaurav Lakra, a dentist of Taumarunui to be proven.
The Director of Proceedings alleged that Dr Lakra’s conduct in relation to his treatment of a patient between 2008 and 2010 amounted to professional misconduct, and that it brought, or was likely to bring, discredit to the dental profession. The treatment concerned a root canal performed by Dr Lakra where an instrument separated in the canal. Dr Lakra failed to discharge his professional obligations to his patient by failing to inform him that the instrument had separated and had remained in the canal; to advise him of treatment options following the instrument separation; to disclose the real reasons for ongoing treatment and obtain informed consent; and to keep adequate clinical records. As to penalty, the Tribunal ordered that Dr Lakra be censured for his professional misconduct; fined $3,000; and ordered to pay 30 percent of the costs of the proceedings. The Tribunal’s full decision is available here (http://hpdt.org.nz/portals/0/den15309ddecisionweb.pdf).
