Doctor’s downfall

February 2014 – Mr Eljamel is suspended from his post at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee after a patient underwent surgery on the wrong spinal disc. He also has to step down from his teaching and research posts at Dundee University following the interim order by the Medical Practitioners’ Tribunal Service.

March 2015 – Former Dundee DJ Pat Kelly demands a public inquiry after claiming he was the victim of a “botched operation” by Mr Eljamel in 2007. Health Minister Shona Robison later rejects the inquiry calls. Many more people come forward to say they were also left with long-term health difficulties following surgery by Mr Eljamel. The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service determines the interim order of conditions against Mr Eljamel, imposed in February 2014, should remain in place and be subject to review.

May 2015 – A dedicated national hotline is set up by top personal injury lawyer Patrick McGuire of Thompson’s to identify possible victims of Mr Eljamel. Later, Mr Eljamel sparks fury as he jets off to Brazil to address guests at the opening ceremony of the 15th International Photo-dynamic Association (IPA) World Congress at the five-star Belmond Copacabana Palace Hotel in Rio de Janeiro. It later emerges the IPA did not know about his suspension.

August 2015 – Mr Eljamel gives up his licence to practise ahead of a hearing to decide if he should be struck off.

September 2015 – The Scottish Government said it was “very sorry” after a series of operations left patients claiming their long-term health had been affected – but it ruled out an inquiry, stating it was “satisfied” that a “thorough and wideranging” investigation by NHS Tayside would “prevent this happening again in future”.

October 2015 – Personal injury lawyer Patrick McGuire admits that medical negligence cases against Mr Eljamel could take years.

February 2016 – Liverpool University investigates claims Mr Eljamel may be pretending to work there as he continues to jet around the globe on lucrative speaking engagements.

March 2016 – Mr Eljamel comes under fire after designing his own tartan.

July 2016 – Mr Eljamel is accused of giving the impression he is representing Dundee University on a speaking engagement in China.

October 2016 – Mr Eljamel’s appearance at the Royal Society of Medicine conference in London is hastily cancelled. He is removed from the schedule when it is brought to the attention of organisers that he no longer holds a medical licence.

February 2017 – Mr Eljamel incurs the wrath of the doctors’ regulator and the Scottish Government’s chief medical officer. He is told to take down false information from his website that claimed he was still registered with the GMC, despite the fact he gave up his licence to practise in August 2015.