Indian-origin neurosurgeon suspended in UK over serious professional misconduct
London : An Indian-origin neurosurgeon has been suspended for eight months by a UK medical tribunal after being found guilty of engaging in a sexual relationship with one of his patients.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Dr Chirag Patel, who was employed by a National Health Service (NHS) hospital in Cardiff, Wales, told the UK’s General Medical Council (GMC) that he is “deeply regretful” of his misconduct relating to Patient A, whom he had treated between 2019 and 2021.
A Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) report, issued after a hearing last month, stated that the tribunal found an eight-month suspension to be “appropriate and proportionate in light of all the circumstances of the case”.
The report said the sanction was necessary to underline the gravity of the misconduct and to send a clear message to the medical profession and the public that such behaviour is unacceptable.
The tribunal noted that Dr Patel he entered into a sexual relationship with the patient while she was under his care and described her as a vulnerable individual at the time.
It further found that between May 2022 and January 2023, Dr Patel prescribed controlled medication to the patient and failed to properly record it in her medical files.
The relationship later deteriorated in early 2023, when the patient made allegations to the police. Although the police did not pursue charges, they informed the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, which subsequently launched an internal inquiry.
Dr Patel later referred himself to the GMC on February 28, 2023, after disciplinary proceedings were initiated.
In his statement to the tribunal, he admitted misconduct and expressed remorse.
