A top neurosurgeon has been suspended after a medical tribunal found he had a sexual relationship with a vulnerable patient and repeatedly prescribed addictive painkillers without proper records or safeguards.Chirag Patel, a consultant at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, has been suspended for eight months after admitting the affair and sending explicit images to a patient, as well as prescribing controlled drugs including diazepam and opioid-based drugs. Patel first treated the woman, referred to as Patient A, in February 2019 when he performed surgery to remove damaged intervertebral disc tissue.
He later operated on her again in August 2019 and December 2021, and inserted a spinal cord stimulator in a third procedure.Shortly after the initial surgery, the physician began a sexual relationship with the patient, which continued alongside his clinical involvement. He later described the situation as “deeply regrettable”.The relationship came under scrutiny after it deteriorated in 2023. The patient reported the matter to police, who then reported it to Cardiff and Vale University Health Board.
Patel admitted to having a sexual relationship and exchanging explicit photos, and before prescribing medications including diazepam and morphine sulfate tablets to the patient.The court said he showed “reckless disregard for patient safety,” noting that he continued to prescribe controlled medications even after missing appointments and failed to properly document treatment decisions.Patel believed the patient might expose their relationship, which he claimed made him feel stressed and fearful of losing his career.He said: “I was afraid if I did this I would lose the job I loved so much and had worked so hard to get. 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 have nonetheless ended the relationship and been honest with my employer. However, at the time I felt panicky and unable to end this relationship – a decision I now deeply regret.”He also told the court that the patient had previously demanded money and threatened to report him, claiming: “Patient A had previously asked for £11,000, which I didn’t have, so I instead offered her £5,000 from my savings.”Despite his defense arguments that the relationship was affected by threats and blackmail, the court found that Patel’s misconduct was persistent and a serious breach of professional standards.Robin Kitching, a lawyer for the General Medical Council, said the doctor should be sacked, saying there was a risk of recurrence due to a lack of full insight into his actions.However, the panel accepted that Patel had shown “genuine remorse, a high level of insight and substantial remediation”, which reduced the risk of the behavior being repeated. It ruled that the eight-month suspension was necessary to signal the seriousness of the case and maintain public confidence.Cardiff and Vale University Health Board confirmed that Patel no longer works for the organisation.