The MSG has sought to reassure patients of the “high and safe standard of women’s healthcare” it provides.
Speaking after Ali Shokouh-Amiri was told he can continue working in his specialist field of female health care, the Chair of Guernsey’s Medical Specialist Group said he has “full confidence in our consultant obstetricians and gynaecologists who are dedicated to providing an excellent and safe service to our patients”.
While Mr Shokouh-Amiri no longer works in Guernsey, Dr Steve Evans acknowledged that some of his former patients will still have concerns about seeing any other doctor, particularly when it concerns the possibility of intimate examinations and surgery.
He urged anyone with concerns about their care at the hands of Mr Shokouh-Amiri or any other practitioner to speak to the MSG directly.
Dr Evans also apologised directly to the women personally affected by Mr Shokouh-Amiri’s actions.
“I would like to say that we are truly sorry for any harm or distress that may have been suffered by women at the MSG while under the care of Mr Shokouh-Amiri,” he said.
Dr Evans has also explained how the MSG responded when a serious concern about Mr Shokouh-Amiri’s work was raised in November 2018.
He was immediately put under a ‘Managing high professional standards’ investigation meaning that until it concluded he could only carry out certain surgical procedures under the supervision of another consultant.
That changed in early January 2019, when Guernsey Police notified the MSG that allegations of sexual assault or sexually motivated behaviour had been made against Mr Shokouh-Amiri.
At that time he was “immediately excluded from having any contact with patients while the police carried out their investigation”
Dr Evans has confirmed that Mr Shokouh-Amiri continued to be excluded from seeing patients until he left the MSG in August 2019.
Dr Evans’ statement referenced that the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service found Mr Shokouh-Amiri’s fitness to practice was not impaired.
“I have to respect that decision,” he said.
Mr Shokouh-Amiri worked in Guernsey between October 2016 and August 2019.
He was the Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at the MSG meaning he also carried out surgeries on women at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital.
Six of his patients made serious allegations against him relating to their treatment, including intimate examinations and surgeries, during that time.
The long list of allegations was shared by the MPTS as it opened a two-week hearing last month to determine his fitness to practice.
The allegations which were admitted or proven all concerned “over-familiarity with patients, surgical issues, clinical errors, and chaperones”.
These included removing the ovaries of two women without their consent.
He also admitted hugging one patient, and failing to have a chaperone present while carrying out intimate examinations on the same patient on at least three occasions.
Mr Shokouh-Amiri also admitted failing to arrange treatment for another patient, and again he admitted that he failed to have a chaperone present while carrying out intimate examinations on her.
Of the admitted or proven allegations, the MPTS heard they included incidents of “serious misconduct” or were “seriously below the accepted standard” in medical care.
Many other allegations were not admitted or proven.
This means he can continue working as an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist.
Express understands he is currently working at Mid and South Essex University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
Following the decision by the MPTS that Mr Ali Shokouh-Amiri’s fitness to practice is not impaired, Dr Evans released the following statement, reproduced in full:
“The tribunal reached the decision that Mr Shokouh-Amiri’s fitness to practice was not impaired, even though they did find several instances of serious misconduct and issued him with a warning. I have to respect that decision.
“However, I would like to say that we are truly sorry for any harm or distress that may have been suffered by women at the MSG while under the care of Mr Shokouh-Amiri.
“We first became aware of serious concerns about Mr Shokouh-Amiri’s clinical practice after a surgical procedure on 29 November 2018.
“The next day, with HSC we launched a ‘Managing high professional standards’ investigation and agreed that until it concluded, Mr Shokouh-Amiri could only carry out certain surgical procedures under the supervision of another consultant.
“The first we knew of allegations of sexual assault or sexually motivated behaviour in clinic was on 3 January 2019 when Guernsey Police contacted us. We immediately excluded Mr Shokouh-Amiri from having any contact with patients while the police carried out their investigation. Mr Shokouh-Amiri continued to be excluded from seeing patients until he left the MSG in August 2019.
“We also took steps to amend our chaperone policy. Despite what Mr Shokouh-Amiri told the tribunal, our policy has always been that a chaperone must be present whenever a healthcare professional carried out an intimate examination and we have trained chaperones available at all times. Previously, in line with GMC guidance, the doctor would sign to say if the patient declined to have a chaperone present. Under the new policy, introduced in April 2019, the patient must sign as well as the doctor.
“I would urge any women who may have been upset by a previous experience with Mr Shokouh-Amiri, or by what they have heard in recent weeks, not to put off seeing a doctor if they have any concerns about their health.
“I have full confidence in our consultant obstetricians and gynaecologists who are dedicated to providing an excellent and safe service to our patients.
“We have a range of safeguards in place for patients, as described in Keeping you safe on our website. One of the most important safeguards is that patients or their family members tell us if they are concerned about any aspect of our services so that we can investigate and take any action required. All they need to do is email customercare@msg.gg or call the MSG and ask to speak to a member of the customer care team.”