Coercive doctor jailed in his absence struck off

A doctor jailed in his absence for coercion has been erased from the medical register due to fears he is a risk to the public.

Oncologist Shamir Chandran was sentenced in November to four years in prison and was handed a restraining order for two counts of engaging in coercive behaviour and a separate count of cruelty to a person under 16.

Chandran, formerly of Houghton, near Carlisle, worked at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle and is no longer employed there.

A Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) hearing determined his fitness to practice was impaired because of his conviction and struck him off.

A report published following the hearing said Chandran had denied the charges and had not taken part in his criminal hearing or tribunal proceedings.

"In the case of the criminal proceedings, he had fled the country, resulting in an outstanding warrant for his arrest," the report said.

Cumbria Police confirmed Chandran was a wanted man.

The tribunal said it considered his conviction at Carlisle Crown Court particularly serious because his actions had been persistent and repeated.

Its report said: "It was directed towards people who were vulnerable and involved elements of premeditation - seeking financial gain from [his victim] through intimidation."

The MPTS said Chandran "had shown no insight as to the seriousness of his actions" or their impact.

It said: "Due to his lack of insight and the risk of him repeating his actions, the tribunal considered that there was current and ongoing risk to public protection because of Dr Chandran's conviction.

"The tribunal considered that there was a real risk of him harming someone in the future."

Correspondence from Chandran published in the report showed he told the General Medical Council (GMC), which manages the register, that he was "disgusted" at the way he had been treated in the UK and that his career had been "destroyed".

"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."

In further emails to the GMC he said he had left the UK and had been working with a friend at a private practice.

The documents show Chandran qualified in 2001 in India from the University of Calicut Academy of Medical Sciences, Pariyaram.

At the time of the events, he was practising as an oncologist.

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