Two individuals in Tenerife have been convicted of professional intrusion after undertaking tasks without the necessary qualifications in La Orotava and Cabo Blanco. This information was disclosed on Monday by the Santa Cruz de Tenerife College of Dentists.
The College of Dentists reported that they had raised concerns about these cases and acted as a private prosecutor in the Arona case.
The 5th Criminal Court of Santa Cruz de Tenerife imposed a fine of 12 Euros, at a rate of 4 Euros per day, on a dental technician, along with covering the costs.
The verdict, with the consent of all parties involved, establishes that, “between April and June 2022”, the individual in question performed tasks typical of qualified dentists in El Mayorazgo, La Orotava, knowing that they lacked the necessary certification.
This ruling is final as the parties involved have been notified and have decided not to appeal.
Additionally, the 3rd Criminal Court of Santa Cruz de Tenerife has convicted another dental technician for professional intrusion in Cabo Blanco, imposing a fine of 12 months at a daily rate of 3 Euros and covering the procedural costs.
The sentence confirms that the individual, possessing a degree in Higher Dental Prosthesis Technician, exceeded his duties during two occasions when a patient visited the laboratory in Cabo Blanco, Arona.
According to the verdict, the convicted technician went beyond his role by diagnosing the patient, taking measurements, creating a prosthesis, conducting manipulations in the patient’s mouth, and completing dental work for which he was not qualified, all leading to the final placement of the prosthesis, explicitly prohibited by law.
The offence of intrusion is outlined in article 403.1, first paragraph, of the Criminal Code.
The College of Dentists of Santa Cruz de Tenerife affirms its commitment to monitoring and investigating instances of professional intrusion to safeguard both qualified dentists and the oral health of citizens. Performing such actions without the proper qualifications poses a health risk to the patients.
Therefore, the professional association in the province of Tenerife emphasises the necessity of increasing penalties for intrusion to effectively deter such behaviour and prevent jeopardising the healthcare of individuals.
