Disgraced dentist case could be biggest mass litigation in Scotland ever

Disgraced dentist Alan Morrison was struck off the dental register earlier this year after he put 6,000 patients at risk as a result of using dirty equipment. More than 800 people have lodged claims against him.

In February the General Dental Council’s professional conduct committee struck Mr Morrison off — for the second time — describing his behaviour as “woeful”.

Solicitor for the victims, Patrick McGuire of Thompsons Solicitors, said there could be a test case in six months.

“His conduct was contemptible. This is a man who clearly thought he was above the law and had no regard whatsoever for his patients,” he said.

“The irony is that he cut so many corners to save probably not much more than a few thousand pounds each year. It put an entire community at risk.”

He added: “Mr Morrison was charged with misconduct and then struck off but there’s still a lot of law and a lot of detail to be looked at. We’re looking at how we can allow this matter to be tested in court and get to a position where all 800 people can be fairly compensated.”

Mr Morrison re-used his surgical gloves on patients and failed to clean his instruments, despite being warned by inspectors, the dental council heard. Patients at his surgeries in Ayrshire were eventually offered HIV and hepatitis B and C tests after a dental nurse exposed Mr Morrison’s poor practices.

Four patients tested positive for hepatitis C.

Mr Morrison was originally removed from the register in 2005 after he let an inmate at HMP Kilmarnock inject another with a sedative. However, he rejoined the following year.

He is now bankrupt, with debts of more than £441,000, but lawyers said this will not affect the cases as the action is against his insurer, the Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland. The total bill could be as much as £2 million, with victims each getting four-figure settlements.