India-origin doctor had sex with patient, then got ‘blackmailed’ into prescribing off-the-books painkillers

India-origin neurosurgeon suspended after tribunal found misconduct linked to a patient relationship and prescribing opioid painkillers without records.

An India-origin neurosurgeon has been suspended by the authorities from practising for eight months after he allegedly had sexual relationship with a patient and was allegedly ‘blackmailed’ into prescribing opioid painkillers without keeping any records of it.

According to medical tribunals record, accused doctor Chirag Patel, who is a Consultant at the University Hospital Wales in Cardiff, operated on the patient three times between February 2019 and December 2021, BBC reported. After the procedure, the two individuals initiated a sexual relationship which lasted for around six months.

The tribunal found that Patel and the patient’s relationship continued until January 2023 and the India-origin neurosurgeon kept prescribing the controlled medication. The patient had then threatened the doctor to expose their relationship. The tribunal heard that he “bitterly regrets” his actions.

In a setback for Patel, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, which runs the University Hospital Wales, said that it was aware about the suspension and that the accused neurosurgeon doesn’t work for the board anymore.

Patel was a permanent consultant at the hospital in Cardiff since 2018 and he was the only clinician in Wales who could treat Patient A’s specific condition, according to the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service, BBC reported.

Discectomy procedure was carried out on the patient in February 2019 by Patel, who again operated on the patient in August 2019 and then a final time in December 2021.

The report stated that the relationship between the patient and Patel deteriorated by February 2023 and the patient made accusations to the police against the doctor. The same month Patel referred to the General Medical Council (GMC), an independent regulator of doctors.

According to GMC counsel Harriet Tighe, “The misconduct in this case was persistent, repeated, and was an abuse of professional position which demonstrated a reckless disregard for patient safety and professional standards,” BBC reported.

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An India-origin neurosurgeon has been suspended by the authorities from practising for eight months after he allegedly had sexual relationship with a patient and was allegedly ‘blackmailed’ into prescribing opioid painkillers without keeping any records of it.

According to medical tribunals record, accused doctor Chirag Patel, who is a Consultant at the University Hospital Wales in Cardiff, operated on the patient three times between February 2019 and December 2021, BBC reported. After the procedure, the two individuals initiated a sexual relationship which lasted for around six months.

The tribunal found that Patel and the patient’s relationship continued until January 2023 and the India-origin neurosurgeon kept prescribing the controlled medication. The patient had then threatened the doctor to expose their relationship. The tribunal heard that he “bitterly regrets” his actions.

In a setback for Patel, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, which runs the University Hospital Wales, said that it was aware about the suspension and that the accused neurosurgeon doesn’t work for the board anymore.

Patel was a permanent consultant at the hospital in Cardiff since 2018 and he was the only clinician in Wales who could treat Patient A’s specific condition, according to the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service, BBC reported.

Discectomy procedure was carried out on the patient in February 2019 by Patel, who again operated on the patient in August 2019 and then a final time in December 2021.

The report stated that the relationship between the patient and Patel deteriorated by February 2023 and the patient made accusations to the police against the doctor. The same month Patel referred to the General Medical Council (GMC), an independent regulator of doctors.

According to GMC counsel Harriet Tighe, “The misconduct in this case was persistent, repeated, and was an abuse of professional position which demonstrated a reckless disregard for patient safety and professional standards,” BBC reported.