Who is Dr Chirag Patel? Surgeon of Indian origin in Great Britain suspended for sexual relationship with patient | Today’s news
Indian-origin neurosurgeon Dr Chirag Patel has come under scrutiny in the UK after a medical tribunal suspended him for eight months for misconduct involving a vulnerable patient.
Dr. Patel worked at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, specializing in neurosurgery, including neuromodulation procedures and pediatric neurosurgery. Court records show he qualified as a doctor at the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda in India in 1994 before moving to the UK in 2002.
According to tribunal documents, he completed his MS in General Surgery from the Government Medical College of Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda in 1998. He later became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in the United Kingdom and joined the Register of Specialists in Neurosurgery in 2018.
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The case gained attention after the tribunal found that the doctor had a sexual relationship with the patient while also prescribing her addictive drugs during their relationship.
Tribunal finds ‘reckless disregard for patient safety’
According to the reports of the organization Daily Mail and tribunal findings published by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service, the relationship allegedly began after Dr Patel operated on the woman in 2019.
The woman, identified during the proceedings as ‘Patient A’, later went to the police in 2023 after the relationship turned sour. Authorities subsequently informed Cardiff and Vale Health Board.
The tribunal concluded that Dr. Patel showed “reckless disregard for patient safety” and put “his personal interests – namely the security of his career, reputation and family relationships” above the proper care of the patient.
The panel subsequently imposed an eight-month suspension to protect the public.
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Doctor admits sending ‘explicit images’
During the proceedings, Dr Patel admitted to having a sexual relationship with the patient and also admitted to sending her “explicit images”. He further admitted that he prescribed addictive drugs to her between 2022 and 2023.
The tribunal documents stated that the doctor did not properly enter the medication in the hospital records and did not inform the patient’s GP about the prescriptions.
The panel also heard that the patient underwent several operations under Dr Patel’s care, including spinal procedures between 2019 and 2021.
What Dr. Chirag Patel told the panel
During the hearing, Dr Patel said he was facing “marital problems” when the relationship began.
According to reports, he told the tribunal: “When I persisted in telling her that the relationship had to end, Patient A threatened to reveal our relationship to others such as my employer and colleagues.”
He went on to say: “I was worried that if she did, I might lose the job that I loved so much and that I worked so hard for. Given my specialty, it would have a knock-on effect on other patients if I wasn’t able to work.”
Dr Patel also admitted that he regretted his actions.
“With hindsight, I know I should have ended the relationship anyway and been honest with my employer. However, at the time I felt panicked and was unable to break it off – a decision I now bitterly regret,” he said.
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The tribunal heard a voice message from the patient
The tribunal also heard a voicemail allegedly left by the woman in the later stages of the relationship.
In the message, she allegedly threatened to report him to the police, saying: “Chirag, you’ve had one chance, two chances, three chances and more chances. You’re in the country doing your job, I don’t want to screw you, but I’m fucked, right?”
She went on to add, “I’ve been giving you chance after chance after chance. You know what? I could write a book about you, okay? You’re going to get together and meet me, or you’re going to be the cowardly c*** I think you are? You’re no God, love.”
Responding to the allegations, Dr Patel claimed that their relationship eventually became hostile.
“I would only see her under threat of blackmail and to put her at ease,” he told the jury.
He further added: “Any romantic or friendly relationship was completely over at this point and our continued relationship was based purely on hostility and blackmail from her towards me.”