This follows a Professional Conduct Committee (PCC) hearing on November 2-3, 2016, where Mr Steven Okechukwu-Funk’s fitness to practise was found to be impaired during the period he worked at the Smiles 4 U Dental Clinic, on Tottenham Lane, in Haringey.
The charges against Mr Okechukwu-Funk covered multiple instances of misconduct, including failing to provide adequate treatment plans, failing to keep proper records and misleadingly and dishonestly accepting payments directly from patients (rather than the patient paying the practice) which was a breach of agreement with his practice.
The dental professional was neither present nor represented at the hearing, despite multiple attempts by the GDC to notify him and invite him to attend. After considering witness statements and documentary evidence, the committee determined that Mr Okechukwu-Funk’s conduct “would be regarded as deplorable by fellow practitioners. His dishonest conduct was dishonourable, disgraceful and was compounded by the fact that it was in relation to patients and colleagues who placed their trust in him as a registered dental professional.”
The committee also found that his misconduct was severe enough to impair his ability to continue working as a dental professional, saying that the behaviours were, “highly likely to be repeated in the future” and that the committee was “satisfied that public confidence in the profession would be undermined if a finding of current impairment was not made in this case.”
After assessing the evidence and weighing up the options available to it, the committee decided that no lesser sanction than removing Mr Okechukwu-Funk from the register would be sufficient to address the errors. It was explained that the “misconduct placed patients and his colleagues directly at risk of financial harm” and that a specific previous patient “was placed at risk of both physical and financial harm”.
Therefore, the committee decided that the only option available was to remove Mr Okechukwu-Funk from the register of dental professionals, and suspend him with immediate effect.
The Committee said: “The registrant’s misconduct demonstrates harmful, deep seated personality and professional attitudinal problems. The committee was of the view that his behaviour towards his patients and colleagues has damaged his fitness to practise, the public confidence in the dental profession and is fundamentally incompatible with being a registered dental professional.”
The decision to remove Mr Okechukwu-Funk from the register does not take effect for 28 days, in which time he can appeal. The PCC made an additional order of immediate suspension which means Mr Okechukwu-Funk is unable to work while he is suspended.
If he does not appeal, Mr Okechukwu-Funk will be removed from the register after 28 days which means he will not be able to practise as a dentist in the UK.
The GDC investigates matters when it is alleged that a dental professional's ability, behaviour or health may impair their fitness to practise.