A top neurosurgeon has been suspended after a medical tribunal found he had a sexual relationship with a vulnerable female patient and repeatedly prescribed her addictive painkillers without proper records or safeguards.Chirag Patel, a consultant at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, was handed an eight-month suspension after admitting to the relationship and sending the patient explicit images, as well as prescribing controlled drugs including diazepam and opioid-based medication. Patel first treated the woman, referred to as Patient A, in February 2019 when he carried out surgery to remove damaged spinal 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 doctor began a sexual relationship with the patient, which continued alongside his clinical involvement. He later described the situation as something he “bitterly regrets”.The relationship came under scrutiny after it deteriorated in 2023. The patient reported the matter to police, who then informed the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board. Patel admitted the sexual relationship and the exchange of explicit images, and accepted prescribing medications including diazepam and morphine sulphate tablets to the patient.The tribunal said he had shown “a reckless disregard for patient safety”, noting that he continued prescribing controlled drugs even after missed appointments and failed to properly document treatment decisions.Patel believed the patient might expose their relationship, which he claimed left him feeling pressured and fearful of losing his career.He said: “I was afraid if she did so I could lose the job I so loved and had worked so hard to obtain. Given my speciality 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.”He also told the tribunal the patient had previously demanded money and threatened to report him, claiming: “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.”Despite arguments from his defence that the relationship was influenced by threats and blackmail, the tribunal found Patel’s misconduct was persistent and a serious breach of professional standards.General Medical Council barrister Robin Kitching argued the doctor should be struck off, saying there was a risk of repetition due to a lack of full insight into his actions.However, the panel accepted Patel had shown “genuine remorse, a high level of insight and substantial remediation”, which reduced the risk of him repeating the behaviour. It ruled that an eight-month suspension was necessary to mark the seriousness of the case and maintain public confidence.Cardiff and Vale University Health Board confirmed Patel is no longer working for the organisation.
