A doctor who failed a number of his patients has had ‘interim restrictions’ imposed while the GMC tries to have him struck off completely.
Dr Ali Shokouh-Amiri was given a formal warning last year after he admitted and was found guilty of a number of failings against female patients while he was working in Guernsey.
The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service gave him a formal warning, but decided that his fitness to practise was not impaired meaning he could continue to work as a doctor.
The General Medical Council appealed that decision, arguing that it was “not sufficient” with the UK High Court quashing the decision last month – forcing the matter back before the MPTS.
It’s now been confirmed that Dr Shokouh-Amiri has had interim restrictions put on his record until a final decision is made over his fitness to practice.
A GMC spokesperson told Express: “We sought temporary restrictions on Dr Shokouh-Amiri’s practice while awaiting a full tribunal to decide if his fitness to practise is impaired.
“We will always take action where concerns suggest patient safety or the public’s confidence in doctors may be at risk.”
The interim conditions on Dr Shokouh Amiri’s practice include a ban on carrying out consultations on female patients without a chaperone present, except in life-threatening emergencies.
He must also personally ensure the GMC is notified of any posts he accepts before starting it, and he must allow the GMC to exchange information with an employer.
The full list of requirements can be read HERE.
Dr Shokouh-Amiri (pictured left and top) was given the formal warning by the MPTS last year after he admitted and was found guilty of a number of serious failings.
The failings included removing the ovaries of two women without their consent, carrying out intimate examinations without a chaperone on multiple women, and failing to arrange treatment for another patient.
The incidents all occurred when he was employed as a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist by the Medical Specialist Group between October 2016 and August 2019.
Six of his patients made more than 100 complaints between them about his work and behaviour during his time in the island.
With the MPTS finding that the doctor’s “fitness to practise” was “not impaired”, he was allowed to continue working and was most recently treating patients in Southend, despite a petition calling for him to be sacked by the town’s NHS trust.
The General Medical Council decided to appeal the decision to allow him to continue practising, telling Express at the time that it had “decided to exercise its powers to issue an appeal in the case of Dr Ali Shokouh-Amiri on grounds including that the tribunal erred in a number of their factual findings, and the tribunal was wrong to conclude that the doctor’s fitness to practise was not impaired”.
The GMC told the appeal hearing that the doctor’s fitness to practise was impaired because there was insufficient evidence of insight, continued risk of repetition, and the allegations were extremely serious.
The GMC appealed the decision on four grounds, arguing that errors were made when evidence was considered in the cases of four of the women.
Two of the grounds were accepted by the High Court, with two dismissed.
With the appeal approved on two grounds, the MPTS will have to rehear the case, to make a fresh decision on some of the facts. A date for this has not yet been set.
