High Court orders new hearing for doctor who removed ovaries without consent

A High Court judge has overturned a ruling regarding gynaecologist Dr. Ali Shokouh-Amiri, ordering a new medical tribunal to reassess his fitness to practise. The decision follows a successful challenge by the General Medical Council (GMC) against a previous Medical Practitioners Tribunal decision that had allowed the doctor to continue working with only a warning.

Dr. Shokouh-Amiri admitted to removing the ovaries of two women without their consent while working at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital in Guernsey, including one instance where no medical necessity was indicated. The original tribunal had found him guilty of misconduct but concluded his fitness to practise was not impaired.

In a 70-page ruling, Mr. Justice Morris criticized the original tribunal for making “wrong or unjust” decisions, citing errors of fact and failures to consider important evidence. The judge provisionally ordered the case back to the tribunal to re-evaluate five sets of allegations and determine if the doctor poses a risk to patients.