A former Tayside surgeon has incurred the wrath of the doctors’ regulator and the Scottish Government’s Chief Medical Officer.
Muftah Salem Eljamel was told to take down false information from his website after the Chief Medical Officer brought it to the attention of the General Medical Council (GMC).
The website claimed Mr Eljamel was still registered with the GMC despite the fact he gave up his licence to practice in August 2015 ahead of a hearing to decide if he should be struck off.
Mr Eljamel told them it was a “historic website” which wasn’t in use but agreed to take the information down after being contacted by the GMC.
A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: “We have been advised by the GMC that they have contacted Professor Eljamel about the details on his website.”
Membership of the GMC register confers substantial privileges under Part VI of the Medical Act 1983. It is a criminal offence to make a false claim of membership.
Mr Eljamel was suspended in 2014 after a patient had surgery on the wrong spinal disc at Ninewells Hospital.
He also had to step down from his teaching and research posts at Dundee University after the interim order by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service.
The GMC later allowed Mr Eljamel to remove himself from the medical register after ruling it was in the best interests of patients.
A spokesman for the GMC said: “He was advised to take it down and we told him that it was a criminal offence to make a false claim of membership.
“He said it was a historic website which wasn’t in use and he would remove it.”
Accident claims solicitors in Scotland have also been dealing with a number of cases relating to surgery carried out by Mr Eljamel.
A national hotline was subsequently set up to identify possible victims which was besieged by calls.
Former patient Patrick Kelly from Dundee said: “It was no surprise to me to hear about this as it is clear that Eljamel believes, and in my opinion, believed, he is above the law.
“I am sick and tired of hearing and reading about this man’s arrogance and his continuation to upset those who have suffered at his hands.”
Mr Eljamel has previously faced a suggestion of apparent misrepresentation on speaking engagements by Dundee and Liverpool universities.
In October he was hastily dropped from a prestigious Royal Society of Medicine conference after his past caught up with him.
Mr Eljamel was unable to be reached for comment despite repeated attempts.
