Muslim Dentist 'Told Patient to Wear a Headscarf or go Elsewhere'

September 18, 2007

Author: STEVE DOUGHTY and JAYA NARAIN

Source: Daily Mail

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=482112&in_page_id=1770

A muslim dentist made a woman wear Islamic dress as the price of accepting her as an NHS patient, it is alleged.

Omer Butt is said to have told the patient that unless she wore a headscarf she would have to find another practice.

Later this month, Mr Butt will appear before a General Dental Council professional misconduct hearing, which has the power to strike him off.

It is claimed that the 31-year-old dentist asked to speak to the woman in private after she turned up for an appointment at his clinic in Bury.

According to the charges, he questioned her on whether she was a Muslim and told her that if he was to treat her she would have to wear Islamic dress.

He is also said to have read out a number of religious rules to her.

He then told his nurse to give the patient her own headscarf to wear, the accusation says.

It is not known whether the woman was a Muslim.