Slater and Gordon urges caution after patients left in limbo by Perth dentist

Lawyers are urging Australians to think twice before being persuaded by aggressive advertising to dip into their super for medical or dental treatments.

Medical Law Practice Leader Sarah Marshman is representing 20 previous patients of Perth dentist Dr David Hurst who were persuaded to dip into their superannuation to pay for expensive and often unnecessary treatments.

Some patients paid more than $70,000 in advance for procedures that never occurred and have yet to be reimbursed.

Dr Hurst, who died in December 2024, was previously convicted of defrauding the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) through forged patient declarations. He received a suspended jail sentence and a 200-hour community work order in 2012 after pleading guilty to 69 counts of theft.

After relocating to Australia, he was permitted to continue practising dentistry as Director of Perth Dental Rooms, where he is alleged to have defrauded patients prior to his death.

“What we’re seeing is not just financial loss, but real emotional distress and ongoing pain caused by reckless, unfinished, and in some cases, unnecessary dental work,” Ms Marshman said.

“For many patients, accessing their superannuation early seemed like a smart way to fund dental treatment. But now they’ve lost tens of thousands from their retirement savings, and are still in pain – physically, financially and emotionally.

“These patients weren’t just sold dental procedures. They were sold false hope through aggressive social media advertising and quick access to super.

“They were encouraged to dip into their retirement savings without any real understanding of the tax penalties or medical risks involved. We are hearing from people who are in daily pain and struggling with broken implants, infections, and untreated complications,” said Ms Marshman.

According to reports by The Sunday Times, up to $2.3 million in patient pre-payments remain unaccounted for by Hurst Group Pty Ltd, the company Dr Hurst used to manage Perth Dental Rooms' finances.

The company is now facing bankruptcy after Dr Hurst withdrew more than $7 million from the Perth practice before his death, leaving patients with even more unanswered questions.

“We’re continuing to gather evidence for a growing number of affected patients and will be seeking accountability for the harm caused.

“We believe there could be over 130 former patients affected.

“We urge anyone who was treated or consulted by David Hurst to contact Slater and Gordon Lawyers at 1800 573 178. Any information received will be treated confidentially and could help bring justice to the victims of David Hurst,” Ms. Marshman said.