A senior dentist tasked with overseeing professional standards has been called “deplorable” after telling colleagues he would not want to be treated by an African.

Rashpal Singh Mondair was suspended for six months after making shocking comments while chairing the Professional Conduct Committee of the General Dental Council (GDC) – which investigates malpractice in the dental industry.

At a panel meeting in August 2018, Mr Mondair, who graduated from the University of Liverpool in 1989, used the phrase: ‘This is going to sound racist but …’ before saying that he would not want to be treated by someone from Africa.

A GDC disciplinary hearing was told how colleagues were “shocked” and “disturbed” by the racist remark, with an awkward silence that would have filled the room.

The audience heard that he also directed the comment at East Europeans or Asians, but it was not clear which group he included.

One witness claimed he was referring to Africans and Asians, another said Mr Mondair was referring to Africa and “the sentence continued with reference to other continents or ethnic origins” .

Mr Mondair admitted to the committee that he was referring to “someone from Africa or Eastern Europe”.

In his statement, he said he said it in the third person, like, “There are people who may not want to see” people from those geographic areas.

But a witness remembered telling him specifically, “I don’t want to be treated by an African or an Asian”.

The committee was convinced that his comments were “unprofessional, offensive and racially motivated.”

The panel concluded: “At the time of comments, Mr. Mondair was both a licensed dental professional and a current chair of the GDC Professional Conduct Committee and therefore would have known the standards of behavior expected of a committee member. in the exercise of its functions.

“Your conduct had a disruptive effect on the case you were hearing that day …

“Your racist comments could jeopardize the impartiality of the regulatory process and endanger the integrity and fairness of the decision-making process.

“Your behavior would be viewed as deplorable by both your colleagues and the public… you are falling short of the standards of conduct that are appropriate in these circumstances and this constitutes serious misconduct.

A General Dental Council disciplinary hearing learned how ‘shocked’ and ‘confused’ colleagues were at the racist remark, with an awkward silence that would have filled the room (GDC file photo)

“Witnesses variously described that there was an” awkward short silence “and that they were” shocked “and later” confused. “

Mr Mondair told the committee that he was not racist and “was not used to behaving in this way”.

He added that no such allegation had been made against him “in 30 years of practice in an area with a large Afro-Caribbean community”.

Mr Mondair also said that he “had personally been a victim of racism, having lived through the 1960s and 1970s, and considered racism to be repugnant”.

After being dismissed from his duties as chairman of the ethics committee in 2019, Mr. Mondair is now suspended for six months.