The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Scandal-hit surgeon is now working in Libya
Claim former NHS Tayside surgeon has ‘gone somewhere he feels he can get away with it’
Alleged victims of a scandal-hit former NHS Tayside surgeon said it is no surprise to see him working in Libya.
Muftah Salem Eljamel, who had been a consultant neurological surgeon at NHS Tayside since 1995 — was suspended in 2014 after a patient had surgery on the wrong spinal disc at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee.
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 General Medical Council later allowed Mr Eljamel to remove himself from the medical register after ruling it was in the best interests of patients.
He is now operating as a surgeon at hospitals in the city of Misrata.
Former Dundee DJ Pat Kelly demanded Police Scotland launch a criminal inquiry after claiming he was the victim of a “botched operation” by Mr Eljamel in 2007.
Mr Kelly continues to suffer chronic back pain and believes the operation was never carried out, despite the fact he was opened up on the operating table.
“It appears that the Libyan people now have faith in Eljamel because there were no sanctions placed on him in the UK,” he said.
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It appears the Libyan people now have faith in Eljamel because there were no sanctions placed on him in the UK. PAT KELLY
“The fault for this fiasco lies with NHS Tayside, who failed to bring in the police, and the GMC for allowing him to resign and disappear.”
There were allegations he worked at Ninewells for almost a year from 2013-14 under “supervision” while NHS Tayside investigated the complaints.
Jules Rose from Kinross was operated on by Mr Eljamel in August 2013, just one month after the surgeon was placed under supervision due to serious concerns about his work.
However, Mr Eljamel was still able to work and, while doing so, operated on Ms Rose where he removed a tear gland instead of a brain tumour.
“He has obviously gone somewhere he feels he can get away with it,” she said.
The Scottish Government said it was “very sorry” after operations left patients claiming their long-term health had been affected. But it ruled out an inquiry, stating it was “satisfied” a “thorough and wide-ranging” investigation by NHS Tayside would “prevent this happening again in future”.
Mr Eljamel was involved in a series of controversies after giving up his licence to practice.
He continued to jet around the globe on speaking engagements and faced a suggestion of apparent misrepresentation by Dundee and Liverpool universities.
At the start of 2018 he sold his house in Newport to prepare for a life abroad.
He remains the subject of civil cases in relation to surgery carried out which are still going through the Court of Session in Edinburgh.
Police Scotland has also been involved in building a criminal case against Mr Eljamel after lengthy interviews with alleged victims. A police spokesman said inquiries are continuing.