Ahmedabad Times

A prime neurosurgeon has been suspended after a medical tribunal discovered he had a sexual relationship with a susceptible feminine affected person and repeatedly prescribed her addictive painkillers with out correct information or safeguards.Chirag Patel, a guide on the College Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, was handed an eight-month suspension after admitting to the connection and sending the affected person specific photos, in addition to prescribing managed medicine together with diazepam and opioid-based medicine. Patel first handled the lady, known as Affected person A, in February 2019 when he carried out surgical procedure to take away broken spinal disc tissue. He later operated on her once more in August 2019 and December 2021, and inserted a spinal twine stimulator in a 3rd process.Shortly after the preliminary surgical procedure, the physician started a sexual relationship with the affected person, which continued alongside his medical involvement. He later described the state of affairs as one thing he “bitterly regrets”.The connection got here below scrutiny after it deteriorated in 2023. The affected person reported the matter to police, who then knowledgeable the Cardiff and Vale College Well being Board.Patel admitted the sexual relationship and the change of specific photos, and accepted prescribing medicines together with diazepam and morphine sulphate tablets to the affected person.The tribunal stated he had proven “a reckless disregard for affected person security”, noting that he continued prescribing managed medicine even after missed appointments and did not correctly doc remedy selections.Patel believed the affected person would possibly expose their relationship, which he claimed left him feeling pressured and scared of shedding his profession.He stated: “I used to be afraid if she did so I may lose the job I so cherished and had labored so exhausting to acquire. Given my speciality this could have a knock-on impact on different sufferers if I used to be unable to work. With the advantage of hindsight I do know I ought to nonetheless have ended the connection and been trustworthy with my employer. Nonetheless, on the time I felt panicked and unable to interrupt it off – a call I now bitterly remorse.”He additionally informed the tribunal the affected person had beforehand demanded cash and threatened to report him, claiming: “Affected person A had requested for £11,000 beforehand, which I didn’t have, so I as a substitute supplied to offer her £5,000 from my financial savings.”Regardless of arguments from his defence that the connection was influenced by threats and blackmail, the tribunal discovered Patel’s misconduct was persistent and a critical breach {of professional} requirements.Common Medical Council barrister Robin Kitching argued the physician needs to be struck off, saying there was a threat of repetition attributable to an absence of full perception into his actions.Nonetheless, the panel accepted Patel had proven “real regret, a excessive stage of perception and substantial remediation”, which lowered the danger of him repeating the behaviour. It dominated that an eight-month suspension was essential to mark the seriousness of the case and preserve public confidence.Cardiff and Vale College Well being Board confirmed Patel is now not working for the organisation.