Woman Jailed For Three Years

A medical lawyer at Irwin Mitchell has expressed concerns about how a woman was able to work for several years as a dentist, despite not having the necessary qualifications.
 
Vinisha Sharma, 37, has been jailed for three years after admitting seven counts of fraud and forgery, including claiming to have a degree from an educational institute in India.

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard that the General Dental Council failed to check that the qualifications were authentic. Ms Sharma had worked for NHS Trusts across the country, including in Wolverhampton, Burton on Trent, Peterborough and East Grinstead.

Jennifer Emerson, a medical lawyer at Irwin Mitchell who specialises in dental cases, said that it was vital that lessons are learnt from the incident.

She explained: “It is undoubtedly concerning to see that someone was able to enter a profession and treat patients despite not having the necessary qualifications to do so.”

“Patient safety must always be a priority and I hope that this case has led to a change in the scrutiny that the qualifications of dentists entering the profession have been put under.”

“Ultimately, the public need reassurances that safety standards have improved in order to ensure confidence in NHS dentistry.”

If you have suffered as a result of dental negligence, our medical negligence solicitors could help you to secure compensation. View our Dental Negligence Compensation page for more information.