A consultant who carried out unauthorized surgical procedures on female patients has had restrictions placed on his practice while medical regulators challenge his lenient tribunal outcome in the High Court.
Consultant gynaecologist Ali Shokouh-Amiri has been barred from consulting female patients alone after admitting he removed the ovaries of two women without their consent.
Chaperone rules slapped on consultant
The General Medical Council has placed interim conditions on Dr Shokouh-Amiri, who currently works as a consultant in obstetrics and gynaecology at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust.
Under the new measures, he is prohibited from conducting consultations with female patients unless an independent chaperone is present.
An exception will only be permitted during life-threatening emergencies.
Ovaries removed without medical need
The restrictions stem from a series of serious incidents involving patients treated at Guernsey’s Princess Elizabeth Hospital between 2016 and 2019.
Shokouh-Amiri confessed to removing the ovaries of two patients without securing their consent.
In one of those cases, there was no medical need identified for the surgery.
A tribunal also found proved allegations that he hugged and kissed one patient and suggested another join him at the gym.
High Court challenge launched by regulator
While a Medical Practitioners Tribunal in 2025 ruled that the organ removals and gym comment amounted to misconduct, it decided his fitness to practise was not impaired.
The panel issued a warning and allowed him to keep working, claiming there was a low risk of unwarranted harm to patients.
Watchdog officials at the General Medical Council are now challenging that decision in the British High Court.
Regulators contend the tribunal failed to evaluate important evidence when deciding his case.
The GMC stated it would always take action whenever concerns suggest patient safety or public confidence in the medical profession may be put at risk.