Despite an emphatic and repeated appeal, almost a supplication, two dentists from Steenwijk failed today to come closer together. They have been in fierce conflict with each other for years. A rock-hard feud, the chairman of the Regional Disciplinary Tribunal for Health Care in Zwolle calls the matter bluntly. ''That is not good for patient care.''
He therefore undertook repeated attempts at peace talks. ''Gentlemen stop this. Put your energy into dental care and not into fighting each other. The patient should not become a plaything of two dentists having a conflict.''
Sad and sad
It will rarely be seen in our country. The allegations back and forth do not lie: from poor care and false signatures, to refusing to turn over patient records and false reports. The result, according to the disciplinary board, is "pathetic, sad and sad": more than 20 time-consuming and money-consuming cases in the past seven years, in either disciplinary or regular court.
And the end is not yet in sight. There are at least three more cases in the pipeline.
The parties sat opposite each other again in court today following a complaint by one dentist about another. This time it was about alleged serious uncollegial conduct, making a baseless report and not providing medical records of transferred patients. A similar complaint was filed by the other dentist years ago about the one dentist.
Endless
Therefore, based on experience over the past seven years, the Disciplinary Board already sees the buzz. This goes on endlessly. ''Disciplinary law is not for professionals to hold each other accountable, but for patients and clients who want to do that to a health care provider.''
That led to the question: what will it take to stop this? Attorney Peter Plasman, who is assisting the indicted dentist, already had the answer ready. The renowned criminal lawyer was hired for this very job - his second disciplinary case ever - to try to put an end to the situation.
His suggestion: ''Let's agree that for a year or preferably longer, we won't file complaints back and forth. Leave it to patients, provided they are not encouraged and funded by the other side.''
After a proposal for mediation failed ("Too much has happened for that"), the disciplinary board asked both parties during a 15-minute suspension to consider the proposal not to file any more complaints.
Emotional
The accused dentist wants nothing more. Emotionally, he makes it clear how much all this is eating away at him and his family. ''I would like this misery to stop today.''
At most, the other dentist will promise to do his best not to file any more complaints. ''You cannot ask more of me. I see it as my duty as a health care provider to raise issues that are not right.''
The chairman of the disciplinary board explains again that he does not have to. Emphasizes that he can leave it to patients and the Health Care Inspectorate. Then, surveying the battlefield once more, he defeatedly throws in the towel.
''We have tried and used all possible means. Hopefully, outside of this hearing between the lawyers, we will still manage to work something out.''
The disciplinary board will rule on the complaints on March 28.
