A multi-million-pound lawsuit against a dentist who left thousands of patients fearing that they had HIV, is set to be dropped, it has been reported.
Alan Morrison, 61, who had practices in Ayrshire, Scotland, was banned from carrying out his duties in 2016 after he put 6,000 people at risk by using unclean equipment. His surgeries based in Cumnock and Drongan were shut down by the local health board after a whistleblower exposed him in 2013.
The tip-off sparked one of the largest litigations in Scottish history, with at least 800 patients claiming compensation. It came after around 2250 patients had to be checked for blood-borne viral infection due to the state of his equipment. It was reported that around four people tested positive for hepatitis C. However, it remains unknown whether they contracted it from the dental sites.
Following an eight-year legal battle, patients have been left devastated after Thompsons Solicitors, who have been representing them, said they have “exhausted” all efforts to take legal action. They advised clients to take up an offer by Morrison to abandon all cases on a “no expenses” basis. David Reid, 68, from Cumnock, a patient of Morrison, says “no justice” has been served.
Dave told the Daily Record.: “Morrison admitted to what he did and he was previously even struck off before these breaches, but yet he has just walked away. It’s just not right. I’m the sort of person that leaves a lot of things on the surface, but I will never forget when my grandchild asked my wife why her ‘papa’ didn’t love her any more after I became quite distant and wouldn’t hug them out of worry.
“Even though my test came back negative, whenever I became ill I worried if it might be something to do with that. I had appointments with Morrison at least a dozen times. It was chaotic and disorganised. You’d walk in and there were tools just lying on a tray. You just assume that you can trust your dentist. I even defended him when rumours started coming out as I thought he was a decent guy. It defeats me how this is justice.”
He added: “You just assume that you can trust your dentist. I even defended him when rumours started coming out as I thought he was a decent guy. It defeats me how this is justice.” Morrison declared himself bankrupt in 2016 but Thompsons said they would continue with their lawsuit. Their efforts came to a halt in June 2023 when the lead patient in the action was refused an appeal.
The courts had previously ruled Morrison was not responsible for an acute stress disorder suffered by the patient as a result of learning of a small chance he had contracted a blood-borne infection. Thompsons said they struggled to accept the courts came to the right decision and it was with “much regret” that they were unable to support the litigation further. A court decision is yet to be confirmed on whether Thompsons can pursue cases for other clients, but they said they could no longer support funding the cases with significant litigation expenses to be paid.
David continued: “I’m angry. We’ve been dragged through this lawsuit for eight years and then they just drop us. Myself and others can’t afford to sue ourselves so unfortunately it is just another example of the big businesses stomping on the ordinary guy.” Thompsons said: “We cannot comment currently due to ongoing legal issues but will issue a statement in the near future.”