Doctor who removed ovaries without consent is allowed to continue practising

A doctor who removed the ovaries of two women without their consent has been deemed 'fit to practise' by a medical tribunal. Dr Ali Shokouh-Amiri, who admitted to the unauthorised removal of ovaries while working at a hospital in Guernsey, has been permitted to continue his medical career but received a formal warning. He is now working as a consultant gynaecologist at Southend University Hospital, part of the Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust. Allegations and proven misconduct During a Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) hearing, Dr Shokouh-Amiri faced over 100 allegations of inappropriate behaviour, with 24 instances proven. The 24 proven instances included: Removing the ovaries of Patient C and Patient D without consent, with no clinical justification for Patient D’s ovary removal Touching Patient D’s clitoris Kissing and hugging Patient F on two occasions Rubbing or touching Patient A’s leg Performing multiple intimate examinations without a chaperone present The allegations involved six patients under his care during his time as a partner at the Medical Specialist Group (MSG) in Guernsey from 2016 to 2019. One patient told the tribunal that the removal of her left ovary without consent had “ruined her life”, while another patient said she believed the removal of her ovaries was deliberate and had prematurely brought on menopause. Despite the emotional impact on his patients, the MPTS concluded that Dr Shokouh-Amiri's “fitness to practise is not impaired”, citing his remorse and efforts to improve his professional conduct. Tribunal findings and ruling The tribunal determined that Dr Shokouh-Amiri had “shown good insight into his failures” and had implemented “procedures and actions to address his failings to ensure they do not happen again”. It noted he had completed a course on professional boundaries and received “extensive testimonials” that highlighted his clinical excellence and otherwise unblemished career. The tribunal concluded that there was a “low risk of Dr Shokouh-Amiri putting patients at a risk of unwarranted harm” and issued him a warning, allowing him to continue his medical career. Dr Shokouh-Amiri said in evidence that he had been friendly with his patients but in a non-sexual way. He said he "was offering compassion and support… to provide comfort and reassurance". A controversial decision The tribunal acknowledged that “Dr Shokouh-Amiri’s misconduct was serious and had the potential to affect public confidence in the profession”. However, it argued that his insight, remorse, and cooperation with the General Medical Council (GMC) regulatory process justified its decision. The written judgment stated: “The Tribunal reminded itself of the significant level of insight, remorse, and remediation demonstrated by Dr Shokouh-Amiri and his acceptance of responsibility from the outset of the regulatory process. He fully engaged and participated with the GMC procedures since the start.” Statement from Hospital Trust Christine Blanshard, Chief Medical Officer at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Dr Shokouh-Amiri has undergone a full tribunal hearing regarding historical allegations from his time at another hospital. Following this independent process, the tribunal concluded that he remains fit to practise. He continues to work at Southend Hospital in accordance with the terms of his registration. We have full confidence in his ability to provide safe, high-quality care to our patients.” Southend Hospital say that the tribunal has made a clear determination on his fitness to practise, and that he remains fully registered and licensed. The hospital Trust says it remains committed to transparency, upholding professional standards, and ensuring the highest quality of patient care. It adds: “Dr Shokouh-Amiri’s position has been reviewed through the appropriate legal and professional channels, and he continues to be a valued member of our clinical team.” Background and current role Dr Shokouh-Amiri qualified as a doctor in January 2005. He worked with the Medical Specialist Group in Guernsey from October 2016 to August 2019, leaving the partnership in 2019 and not seeing patients in Guernsey since January 2019. He is now practising as a consultant gynaecologist at Southend University Hospital.