A scandal-hit Tayside surgeon has given up his licence to practise ahead of a hearing to decide if he should be struck off.
Ninewells Hospital surgeonProfessor Muftah Salem Eljamel was being investigated by the GeneralMedical Council (GMC) after beingsuspended last year after a patient underwent surgery on the wrong spinal disc.
Mr Eljamel, from Newport in Fife, also had to step down from his teaching and research posts at Dundee University after the interim order by the Medical Practitioners’ Tribunal Service.
He subsequently retired from the NHS.
The order suspending a doctor’s registration or imposing conditions is for a maximum period of 18 months and that is due to expire next month.
Mr Eljamel’s medical future was due to be decided within days by the GMC but it has emerged that he has nowrelinquished his licence to practise ahead of the hearing.
A GMC spokesman confirmed the move.
He said they could not discussindividual cases but it means “he can no longer practise as a doctor in the UK”.
“I can confirm that we can’t investigate doctors who are not registered,” he added.
The GMC previously said whether or not he could practise abroad was “amatter for overseas regulators”.
He is known to have visitedConnecticut after his suspension and his details recently emerged on a website which is the largest professionalnetwork for US physicians.
The floodgates effectively opened when former Dundee radio DJ Patrick Kelly called for a public inquiry after claiming he was the victim of a “botched operation” in 2007 by Mr Eljamel.
Since then many more people have come forward to say they were also left with long-term health difficultiesfollowing surgery by Mr Eljamel.
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 of Mr Eljamel and was besieged by calls.
Mr Kelly said yesterday: “Is this an admission of guilt?
“I hope this doesn’t mean Eljamel can simply walk away from his responsibilities by relinquishing his licence.This cop out should not be allowed.
“People have made allegations against Eljamel and these must be investigated and a report must be made public to make sure this never happens again.
“In financial terms how much has or will be paid out from the public purse to compensate those who have been left with further disabilities due to this man’s incompetence?
“From my own personal experience people appear to be frightened of an inquiry and what they may discover.
“Until we get these answers a dark cloud will hang over NHS Tayside.”
Mr Eljamel appeared at the door of his Newport home and declined to answer any questions when The Courier visited.
He has previously declined to return calls, emails or messages left for him since his initial suspension in February 2014.
Mr Eljamellooked markedly different from how he looked at the height of his career at Ninewells.
Dressed casually and now sporting a moustache, he quickly disappeared back inside his house when we identified ourselves as being from TheCourier.
“No, no, no,” was his reply as we asked if he wished to discussrelinquishing his licence to practise.