Indian-origin UK neurosurgeon suspended over relationship with patient, unrecorded opioid prescriptions

An Indian-origin neurosurgeon has been suspended from practising medicine in the United Kingdom for eight months after a misconduct tribunal found he had a sexual relationship with a patient and prescribed her addictive painkillers without properly recording the prescriptions in medical notes.

According to a BBC report, Chirag Patel, a consultant neurosurgeon at University Hospital of Wales, said he prescribed opioid painkillers to a woman identified only as “Patient A” because she allegedly “blackmailed” him by threatening to expose their relationship.

The report said Patel operated on the woman three times between February 2019 and December 2021 to treat a damaged spinal disc. He reportedly began a sexual relationship with her shortly after her second surgery.

The relationship lasted around six months, during which Patel also allegedly sent nude images of himself to the patient.

The UK misconduct tribunal found that the pair maintained a close relationship until January 2023 and that Patel continued prescribing controlled medication to the woman during that period.

According to the report, Patel told the tribunal he prescribed the drugs because Patient A had threatened to reveal their relationship. The report added that the doctor said he “bitterly regrets” his actions.

Patel had been a permanent consultant at University Hospital of Wales since 2018 and was the only specialist in Wales qualified to treat Patient A’s condition. He operated on her in February 2019, August 2019, and December 2021, reported BBC.

Patel told the tribunal he shared his phone number with the patient after her second surgery for medical reasons, but the relationship later became personal and sexual.

According to the report, Patel’s lawyer, Fiona Robertson, argued that Patient A was no longer under his clinical care between August 2019 and January 2020, and that the doctor believed his formal role in her treatment had ended.

However, in January 2020, while they were still in a relationship, Patel arranged a fresh appointment for the patient through his secretary rather than following standard procedures.

The tribunal found that Patel prescribed morphine sulphate tablets and diazepam to the patient between May 2022 and January 2023 on a non-emergency basis, despite missed appointments. The prescriptions were not recorded in official hospital records.

After the relationship deteriorated in February 2023, Patient A approached police with allegations against Patel. No criminal case was filed, but authorities informed the health board’s medical director.

The report said Patel later referred himself to the General Medical Council (GMC) – the independent regulator of doctors, the BBC report said.

In a statement, Patel claimed the relationship was initiated by Patient A and “largely driven by her through the ongoing threats and blackmail”.

“I was afraid if she did so I could lose the job I so loved and had worked so hard to obtain,” he said.

GMC counsel Harriet Tighe told the tribunal the misconduct was “persistent, repeated, and was an abuse of professional position which demonstrated a reckless disregard for patient safety and professional standards.”

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board said Patel was no longer employed by the board.

With inputs from agencies