DocuNews Central
Verified Facts From the UK Tribunal
On 11 September 2025, the United Kingdom’s Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) opened a public hearing concerning Dr Suhail Anjum, a consultant anaesthetist formerly employed at Tameside Hospital in Greater Manchester.
According to the MPTS hearing documents and several reputable British media outlets, including ITV News and LBC, Dr Anjum is accused of briefly leaving an operating theatre while a patient was under general anaesthetic.
Tribunal records show that he asked another nurse to monitor the patient while he stepped out. During that absence, he was found in a compromising position with a nurse in another theatre.
Key points established so far:
The patient remained under full anaesthetic and, according to the hospital and the tribunal, suffered no harm.
Dr Anjum admitted the essential facts during the hearing.
He left Tameside Hospital in February 2024 and is currently living in Pakistan.
The MPTS is considering whether the doctor’s behaviour constitutes serious professional misconduct and what sanctions may follow. Possible outcomes range from formal warnings to removal from the UK medical register.
As of now, the tribunal has not yet issued its final decision. The hearing continues and will determine what disciplinary action, if any, is appropriate.
Why This Case Matters Beyond the Headlines
This tribunal is not only about one doctor’s conduct. It highlights the critical importance of trust in the medical profession. Every patient who agrees to undergo surgery does so with the belief that medical professionals will act with unwavering dedication and integrity.
When that trust is shaken—even if no physical harm occurs—the reputation of the entire profession can be affected. Hospitals and clinics depend on the confidence of the public; any breach can cause fear and doubt far beyond a single operating theatre.
The Central Role of Medical Ethics
The field of medicine rests on long-standing principles often summarised by the Latin phrase “primum non nocere”—first, do no harm. But ethical practice extends far beyond avoiding physical injury.
- Duty of Care:
A doctor has a responsibility to remain fully available to the patient during any procedure, especially when the patient is unconscious and vulnerable. - Professional Conduct:
Doctors and nurses are expected to uphold standards that reflect honour on their calling. Personal behaviour—even outside the operating theatre—can influence public trust. - Accountability:
Medical professionals answer to licensing bodies such as the MPTS in the UK, which enforce rules that protect patients and ensure high standards.
Patient Safety: A Non-Negotiable Standard
Operating theatres are controlled environments where every second counts. Anaesthesia requires constant monitoring because patient conditions can change rapidly.
Even if another nurse or anaesthetist is present, the designated consultant carries ultimate responsibility. Any unnecessary absence introduces risk—something that hospital protocols are designed to prevent.
Lessons for Healthcare Institutions
This case underscores the need for robust hospital policies:
Clear protocols for staff conduct.
Real-time monitoring and double-check systems to ensure no patient is left without qualified oversight.
Regular ethics training to remind staff of their duties and the serious implications of lapses.
These measures are not meant to police professionals unnecessarily but to protect patients and preserve trust.
Moral and Spiritual Reflections
Beyond professional codes, there is a moral dimension that transcends medicine.
For many, moral guidance can be found in timeless principles:
Integrity in all actions. Ancient wisdom counsels, “Whoever is faithful in little things is faithful also in much.” (Luke 16:10)
Respect for human life and dignity. Every patient, regardless of condition, is worthy of full attention and care.
Avoidance of conduct that brings reproach. Personal choices—especially during moments of responsibility—reflect not only on oneself but on one’s colleagues and the community.
For people of faith, these values are not merely professional requirements but spiritual imperatives.
The Broader Call for Personal Accountability
Whether in medicine, business, or everyday life, this case reminds us of the need for self-discipline and personal responsibility. Everyone faces temptation or distraction, but moments of choice reveal character.
Ethical living means recognising that our actions—large or small—carry consequences. A single lapse can damage reputations built over decades and can shake the trust others place in us.
Building a Culture of Trust
Hospitals, clinics and all workplaces benefit when:
Leaders set clear examples.
Staff feel empowered to speak up when standards are at risk.
Training reinforces values as well as technical skills.
Such a culture ensures that patients and clients alike can have confidence that their well-being is always the highest priority.
Waiting for the Tribunal’s Decision
The MPTS will issue its ruling after reviewing all evidence. Until then, Dr Anjum remains innocent of professional misconduct in the legal sense.
The tribunal’s role is not punitive for its own sake but protective: to maintain public confidence in the medical profession and to safeguard future patients.
A Reminder for Us All
This case, while disturbing, serves as a wider lesson:
Professional skill alone is never enough.
Ethics, integrity, and moral responsibility are what truly define the character of any professional.
For doctors, who hold the lives of others in their hands, these qualities are not optional—they are essential.
