An Indian-origin cancer specialist who once worked in the UK’s National Health Service has been permanently banned from practising medicine in Britain after a tribunal ruled that he posed a risk to the public. The decision against Shamir Chandran came after he was convicted in a criminal case involving controlling behaviour and cruelty towards a minor. The doctor, who reportedly left the UK before the proceedings concluded, later told British medical authorities that he would “never work in that country again.”
Who is Shamir Chandran, Indian-origin doctore banned in UK?
Shamir Chandran is an Indian-origin oncologist, or cancer specialist doctor, who earlier worked at a hospital in Newcastle in the UK. He completed his MBBS from the University of Calicut Academy of Medical Sciences in Pariyaram, Kerala.
According to tribunal records cited by BBC, Chandran later informed the General Medical Council (GMC) that he no longer wanted to continue working in oncology and had started helping a friend in a private business while trying to rebuild his life.
Why was the doctor banned in the UK?
Chandran was sentenced to four years in prison in November after being convicted on two counts of controlling and coercive behaviour and one count of cruelty to a person under 16.
Following the conviction, the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) ordered that his name be erased from the UK medical register. The ruling means he can no longer legally practise medicine in Britain.
The tribunal described the offences as serious and said the behaviour targeted vulnerable people.
“It was directed towards people who were vulnerable and involved elements of premeditation - seeking financial gain from [his victim] through intimidation,” the report said.
The tribunal also said Chandran had shown little understanding of the seriousness of his actions.
"The tribunal considered that there was a real risk of him harming someone in the future.”
Did Shamir Chandran leave the UK?
According to the BBC report, Chandran did not attend either the criminal trial at Carlisle Crown Court or the disciplinary hearings. Authorities believe he fled the UK, and Cumbria Police confirmed there is an outstanding warrant for his arrest.
Tribunal documents showed that he resigned from his NHS position after the GMC began action against him.
“Due to the GMC action, I had to resign (from) my job and leave the UK. I don't know how I can help with these proceedings now, as I am not working at present,” he said in one of the emails submitted during the case.
‘I will never work in that country again’
Emails presented before the tribunal revealed Chandran’s anger over how he believed he was treated in Britain during the investigation and legal proceedings.
“I don't care anymore about the proceedings, as my career has already been destroyed,” he wrote to the GMC.
“I am utterly disgusted with the way I have been treated in the UK and I will never work in that country again. They treated me like a common criminal without giving any regard to what I had to say and the impact of what they were doing.”
However, the tribunal concluded that Chandran had not accepted responsibility for his conduct or taken steps to address his behaviour. It also said allowing him to continue as a doctor would seriously damage public confidence in the medical profession.
