Is this the sort the "community" really needs?
 

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - A Dutch dentist who chopped off his finger and then faked a car crash before claiming 1.8 million euros ($2.2 million) from insurers was given a suspended sentence and fined by a court Thursday.

The man, aged 50, mutilated himself and crashed his car into a tree in Belgium in the hope of convincing insurers that the steering wheel had inflicted the injury, the court said.

However, the shape of the cut on his index finger, the level of anaesthetic in his blood and the absence of skid marks on the road suggested otherwise.

"It was not an accident but an amputation he carried out himself, or he had someone do it for him," a court spokeswoman said.

The dentist was fined 25,000 euros and received a six-month suspended jail sentence with 240 hours community service.

Now, I realize that one of the standard punishments is "community service," but any creature capable of cutting off his *own* finger isn't someone I'd want around the people who need service from the community. I also notice that there is no notice of his losing his license to practice dentistry. I do hope that was included in Lefty's punishment.

Re: Is this the sort the "community" really needs?
 

Community service around here is picking up trash - it's a good thing :) And it was a victimless crime - he was the only one hurt.

I don't think he should have lost his license either. It had nothing to do with his dental skills. Let his customers decide if they want to see him or not. If they are appalled by his actions they'll go elsewhere and he'll be broke - with 9 fingers ;)

Re: Is this the sort the "community" really needs?
 

It wasn't intended to be victimless. As much as we may want to say, "so what, it's an insurance company," it still was the intended victim.

That said, I agree that picking up trash on the highway would do him good and that it has nothing to do with his dental skills, though the fact that he was obviously desperate for money may say something about his abilities. ;)

Re: Is this the sort the "community" really needs?
 

There were also a lot of victims that aren't being considered here. He faked his own death. What about his family? Friends? The people that were intended to find this crash and deal with it? What could they have been doing rather than finding and coping with that crash? Consider the people he'd meet in his "new life" as a richer man with another identity? Who supposedly claimed this insurance money? Himself under another identity? An accomplice? What if his insurance scam had worked and he'd decided to try it again...only with a real death this time, someone he'd inserted into his new life?

I like to think about these things. The writer in me, I suppose.

Someone as whacked out as this guy, willing to cut off his own finger and try and fake his death, should not be entrusted with other people's health care.

Re: Is this the sort the "community" really needs?
 

Uh, where does it say he faked his own death?

Re: Is this the sort the "community" really needs?
 

You're right, Peaches. Upon rereading it, I see that his only intent was to show that his finger had been cut off. My bad. :(

Re: Is this the sort the "community" really needs?
 

When people find out what he did they sure won't like him.

























In fact, they'll probably be queuing up to......


























give him the finger ! ahahahahahaha



















laugh you bastards

Re: Is this the sort the "community" really needs?
 

I did. :) and you have points.

Re: Is this the sort the "community" really needs?
 

Oh jeez, lol That was good :) (the joke)

The article... I find it appalling, what people are capable of.

Re: Is this the sort the "community" really needs?
 

I think he is an appropriate candidate for license revocation.

I don't know about Dutch law, but in the U.S. the various state boards regard moral turpitude as a reason to revoke a license. An attempt at insurance fraud certainly qualifies. A willingness to engage in self-mutilation is, at least IMNSHO, both further evidence of a willingness to commit fraud, as well as an indication of possible some serious mental problems.

I don't think he ought to be sticking his hands into anyone's mouth in the course of his professional duties.

Re: Is this the sort the "community" really needs?
 

Not a smooth criminal. :)

Re: Is this the sort the "community" really needs?
 

Damn, imagine being out of town when this story hit and you have an appointment with this dentist....you're going under, getting all numb and look up and notice...he's missing a finger....

Re: Is this the sort the "community" really needs?
 

You're only possible line is "watch it or I'll bite off another one."