Leading neurosurgeon suspended after sexual relationship with patient and prescription of addictive drugs
A leading surgeon has been suspended for having sex with a patient and prescribing her addictive painkillers.
Dr. Chirag Patel, a consultant neurosurgeon, had operated on the woman to remove the damaged part of a disc in her spine and performed further surgery on her before the pair started a sexual relationship in 2019.
Dr. Patel, who worked at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, operated on her a third time two years later when he inserted a spinal cord stimulator.
An investigation found Dr. Patel prescribed the woman an opioid painkiller known as MST until January 2023, along with diazepam, an addictive muscle relaxant, but he did not inform her GP or make a note in her records.
The hearing was told he continued with the prescriptions even after she had missed appointments.
Dr. Patel claimed he was “going through some marital difficulties” when his relationship with the patient began, it was heard.
‘I was afraid’
The doctor said: “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.
“I was afraid if she did so, I could lose the job I loved and had worked so hard to obtain. Given my specialty, this would have a knock-on effect on other patients if I was unable to work.
“With the benefit of hindsight, I know I should nonetheless have ended the relationship and been honest with my employer. However, at the time, I felt panicked and unable to break it off—a decision I now bitterly regret.”
The panel concluded the patient was “vulnerable” and that her repeated requests for painkillers may have been the result of addiction.
‘Threat of blackmail’
Remi Alabi, the panel chairman, said: “Dr. Patel had put his personal interests—namely securing his career, reputation, and family relationships—above Patient A’s proper care.”
The panel heard a voicemail left for the surgeon by the patient, demanding she “have that prescription” and threatening to report him to police.
In his evidence, Dr. Patel claimed: “I would only see her under the threat of blackmail and to appease her. Any romantic or friendly relationship had completely ended at this point, and our ongoing relationship was based purely on hostility and blackmail by her towards me.”
He went on: “Patient A had asked for £11,000 previously, which I did not have, so I instead offered to give her £5,000 from my savings.”
Dr. Patel claimed to be “deeply remorseful” for prescribing the medication while in the “personal relationship.”
He said: “It is no excuse that I did this under the threat of blackmail and exposure.”
The tribunal was told the complaint against Dr. Patel arose when the patient was in “a period of psychosis.”
The hospital’s clinical director for neurosurgery told the hearing it would be “nothing short of a disaster for the people of Wales” if Dr. Patel were to be barred from practicing medicine.
The panel heard Dr. Patel was the only surgeon in NHS Wales able to carry out certain surgeries for neuropathic pain.
Robin Kitching, the GMC barrister, argued he should be struck off due to a risk of him repeating his behavior as he had not shown “sufficient understanding” of why he behaved as he did.
Dr. Patel was handed an eight-month suspension to “protect the public from the risks posed by Dr. Patel’s misconduct.”
Head of Investigations
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