Sir, I find myself nodding in agreement at the common sense expressed by Drs Carleson and Ludford in letters to the editor in BDJ 2006; 200: 473.

For over 20 years I have provided expert witness reports on valuations, management disagreements and clinical complaints. In recent years the most minor of complaints have sought compensation including three days pain post extraction and misdiagnosis of a haematoma as an allergy. Such cases are invariably settled out of court with the patient receiving £200-£300 plus legal costs £600-£800. Clearly a Professional Arbitration Process (PAP) could be quicker and cut down the legal costs. However, Dental Arbitrators would have to be trained and paid and I don't consider that CPD points are an appropriate reward for such activity. Also, the income lost to lawyers does not necessarily drift into any dental budget, therefore funding is an issue especially if a patient loses their case.

As to Dr Ludford's letter on comparison of the GMC and GDC, it is worthwhile noting that the former register doctors whereas the latter has increasing income from other registrations such as hygienists. Unfortunately the bureaucratic ethos of this country often means that the common sense approach doesn't prevail. If allowed the space to tell a quick illustrative story, I recently cleared out a couple of years' back issues of the BDJ and other magazines to a recycling container. Short of resources and in order to meet its recycling target the council has shipped the lot to Indonesia. This hardly seems to balance out the environmental equation but should you receive any letters to the editor from Indonesia you now know why.