Contracts and the Hit Man by Michael A. Gow BDS (Gla) MFDS RCPS (Gla) MSc Hyp (Lon) PGCert (Edin), Editor, DentaltownUK magazi

A few weeks ago, the media picked up on an unusual legal case in Taiwan. You may have read about it: A mother had successfully taken her dentist son to the Supreme Court and the son was ordered to pay his mother more than half a million pounds in reimbursement for his upbringing and education costs.

The thought of this likely created a moment of anxiety, especially among those of us who chose to stay at home during their dental training. However as you read more about this case, it becomes interesting.

The dentist had actually signed a contract stating that when he qualified, he would pay her 60 percent of his net salary to reimburse her for the years of hardship she had endured to provide him with his education and upbringing. He had promised his mother he would look after her in old age, and she thought that by him signing a contract it would protect her interests in that regard.

He was 20 at the time of signing—an adult—so the courts ruled that he had to honour his contract. (His brother had already also had to pay, because he too had signed the contract.) The mother/son relationship had obviously already broken down before the lawsuit happened, but it made me think about how important it is to be entirely happy with a contract before you sign it.

Contracts are important, of course, and in the principle/associate relationship they are essential to ensure clarity of what has been agreed to and what happens in the event of termination of the relationship. In that regard, they are like prenuptial agreements, which are also becoming more commonplace.

I think the lessons of the story about the dentist in Taiwan are:

• Contracts can protect you. If someone promises something, it means nothing legally. If you want to guarantee that something will happen in the event of the breakdown of a relationship, put it in the contract.
• Think before you sign. Read every clause. If you’re unsure about what something means or what the implications will be, hold off signing until you can take advice.
• Look after your mum! A few phone calls and a trip to the Garden Centre for a coffee every other Sunday might just save you half a million!

Among the many exciting developments with DentaltownUK in 2018, we are introducing new members to the honorary editorial board. I’m delighted to announce that Dr. David Bretton has recently joined the board.

Bretton has been a regular contributor to the magazine for the past year, and will be a valuable addition to our team. He graduated from the University of Newcastle in 2013 and now works in private practice at The Cosmetic Dental Clinic in both Durham and Newcastle upon Tyne. He has won numerous awards and is incredibly passionate about the profession. Bretton is interested in all aspects of restorative and cosmetic dentistry, and is currently completing his master’s degree in endodontology. He is a regional representative and committee member for the British and Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.

Outside of work, Bretton is committed to a healthy lifestyle and he is a fully qualified fitness instructor. He regularly writes on topics around health and fitness for DentaltownUK’s lifestyle section. For this edition’s cover story, ‘The Boxing Dentist’, he interviewed dentist and professional boxer Dr. Arthif Daniel (aka “Dr. Hitman”!)