Health group 'truly sorry' about misconduct doctor

MSG also disputed claims made during the tribunal that it had no chaperone policy

A healthcare provider in Guernsey has apologised to women who were affected by a doctor found to have acted inappropriately on 24 occasions by a medical tribunal.

Dr Ali Shokouh-Amiri, a partner at the Medical Specialist Group (MSG) between 2016 and 2019, was issued with a warning and allowed to continue practising medicine.

Dr Steve Evans, from MSG, said he "[had] to respect" the tribunal's decision, but was "truly sorry for any harm or distress that may have been suffered by women" under Dr Ali Shokouh-Amiri's care.

Dr Evans disputed claims made by Dr Shokouh-Amiri during the tribunal that MSG had no chaperone policy, adding trained chaperones "must be present" during "intimate examinations".

MSG had also updated its chaperone policy in light of the case to introduce new safeguards, he said.

"Previously, in line with GMC guidance, the doctor would sign to say if the patient declined to have a chaperone present," he said.

"Under the new policy, introduced in April 2019, the patient must sign as well as the doctor."

Dr Evans said he urged any women who had been "upset by a previous experience" or what they had heard about the case "not to put off seeing a doctor", if they had health concerns.

He said he had "full confidence" in the group's current medical staff, who provided an "excellent and safe service to our patients", adding MSG had a "range of safeguards in place".

Dr Shokouh-Amiri currently works as a consultant in a UK hospital and was deemed fit to continue practising medicine by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal hearing - although he will have a warning attached to his record.