Specialist medical negligence lawyers at Thompsons Solicitors have said they are ‘very concerned’ to learn that The General Medical Council has suspended the medical licence of the mesh surgeon Professor Sohier Elneil.
This follows a hearing earlier this month in which a Medical Practitioners Tribunal considered allegations that in 2017 Dr Elneil had failed to obtain informed consent from a patient, and that she provided dishonest information in respect of a procedure undertaken.
It was further alleged that in 2018 she provided information she knew to be dishonest to NHS Highland, in respect of the procedure undertaken on the same patient.
Following the hearing Elneil, a surgeon once renowned for treating women injured by mesh implants, has had her licence suspended, pending appeal – this means she is currently unable to practice medicine.
The Sunday Post has also reported that further to the tribunal she has been found guilty of allegations over whether she had, or could, fully remove mesh implants in a single procedure, and in a separate civil case in July she was ordered to pay damages to a former patient.
Commenting on the findings, Linda Millband, head of medical negligence group actions at Thompsons Solicitors, who represents over 100 women affected by mesh injuries, said many of her clients would be ‘deeply distressed’ to learn of Elneil’s actions.
She commented: "Patients place immense trust in their surgeons, and when that trust is broken, the consequences can be life-altering.
“Many of our existing clients were treated by Elneil to correct significant damage caused by earlier procedures involving vaginal mesh. They will therefore be deeply distressed to hear of the Tribunal’s findings."
Previously celebrated in the media for her work with mesh-injured women, while Elneil is said to have apologised for the distress experienced by the patient in question, referred to by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal as Patient A, it has been reported by press she was also criticised for showing little personal insight into the harm caused.
The General Medical Council has suspended Professor Elneil from practice while she appeals the Tribunal’s decision.
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