The General Dental Council has refused to explain why Ayr orthodontist Martin MacArthur Moore was suspended from practising for 15 months, despite an appeal arguing that patients have a legitimate interest in understanding the regulator’s concerns.
Dr Moore runs Embrace-U clinics in Ayr and Irvine. The General Dental Council, which oversees the dental profession, rejected a Freedom of Information request seeking details of the case against him.
The watchdog said releasing further information would breach data protection legislation. It also pointed to a policy introduced in 2024 that ended the publication of interim orders committee decisions.
Request for information rejected
Ayrshire Weekly Press asked the GDC to review its original refusal. That appeal was also rejected.
The original FOI request was turned down on August 28, and an appeal was submitted on the same day. The appeal said there was substantial public interest in transparency because of the length of the suspension and Dr Moore’s direct contact with patients.
“Patients and members of the public have a legitimate interest in understanding, so far as lawfully possible, the concerns identified by the regulator and the basis on which the suspension was imposed.”
Katie Spears, the GDC’s executive director of legal and governance, said the regulator considered its first response to be correct.
“We consider that disclosure would be a breach of the data protection legislation.”
She said the GDC recognised a legitimate public interest in fitness-to-practise information, but believed its existing policy met that interest. The regulator said the requested material related to interim orders committee hearings, which take place at an early stage of an investigation and do not represent the final outcome of a case.
“We do not consider that the disclosure of the information you have requested is justified in this case.”
What is known about the suspension
Dr Moore was first registered as a dentist in 1990 after studying at the University of Glasgow. He later gained accreditation from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 1998 and 2002.
His suspension is due to expire in July next year. The source report does not identify the concerns that led to the order, and the GDC has provided no further details about the case.
The regulator is expected to review its decision in October. It has also confirmed that interim orders committee decisions were published in the past, but that practice stopped two years ago after a policy change.
Embrace-U business details
Companies House records identify Dr Moore, who resides in Portugal, as director of Embrace-U Orthodontics Limited and Embrace2 Ltd.
Embrace-U Orthodontics declined to comment.