Neurosurgeon Chirag Patel Suspended 8 Months for Patient Relationship and Unrecorded Opioid Prescriptions
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · May 21
Neurosurgeon Chirag Patel Suspended 8 Months for Patient Relationship and Unrecorded Opioid Prescriptions
1 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 21
An MPTS tribunal suspended Cardiff neurosurgeon Chirag Patel for eight months after finding he had a sexual relationship with a patient he treated and later prescribed controlled drugs without proper records.
The tribunal said Patel prescribed morphine sulphate tablets and diazepam between May 2022 and January 2023 on a non-emergency basis, without noting them in hospital records or informing the patient’s GP.
Patel carried out three procedures on the patient from February 2019 to December 2021; the sexual relationship began after the first operation and lasted six months, though the tribunal found a close relationship continued.
Patel said the patient threatened to expose the relationship and blackmailed him, while his lawyer argued she had driven the contact; the tribunal still found persistent, repeated misconduct and reckless disregard for safety.
The panel cited genuine remorse, insight and remediation in choosing suspension over harsher sanctions, while Cardiff and Vale University Health Board said Patel is not currently working for it.
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