Fit to Sweep Roads
British Dental Journal January 27, 2007

I was diagnosed HIV positive in February 2006 when I applied for a mortgage on a new property. I was unable to move abroad and at the same time could not return to my former career. I did ask my occupational medicine consultant if I would be able to treat HIV positive patients at my local dental hospital. He wrote to the Expert Advisory Group on AIDS. They replied stating that a HIV positive dentist could treat a HIV positive patient under certain circumstances, viz:

• the HIV positive patients give informed consent to being treated by a HIV positive dentist
• procedures are restricted
• the dentist remains under regular

Occupational Medicine supervision

• the dentist meets all other GDC criteria regarding fitness to practise

• the dentist seeks advice from the GDC first.

One further point of note: my OM consultant suggested I apply to the NHSSS for Early Retirement Benefits because of my medical condition. The NHSSS initially agreed to pay me Ill Health Retirement Benefit as I was unable to practise clinical dentistry. When the Pensions Department of the DPB realised I had already left the NHS, they said I had to reapply for Preserved Pension Benefits. This time my application was refused because, in their opinion, I was fit enough to do any job (they even suggested I become a road sweeper) and to reapply when I reached 65, or sooner if I died! Name and address supplied doi: 10.1038/sj.bdj.2007.37