Former Royal Oldham surgeon Dr Yasser Adly Abdel Rahman struck off following serious misconduct findings

A surgeon who carried out an operation that a medical tribunal heard was “not compatible with life” has been struck off the UK medical register following findings of serious professional misconduct.

The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) ruled that Dr Yasser Adly Abdel Rahman’s fitness to practise was impaired after hearing evidence about serious surgical errors made while working as a locum consultant general and colorectal surgeon at The Royal Oldham Hospital in 2020.

The tribunal heard that during emergency bowel surgery, Dr Abdel Rahman connected the wrong section of the small intestine to the stomach and left another section unattached within the abdominal cavity. Expert evidence described the standard of care as falling “seriously below” that expected of a consultant surgeon, with one expert stating the errors were “as bad as it gets”.

The tribunal also found significant failings in the patient’s post-operative care. Despite ongoing severe pain, clinical deterioration and evidence of a bowel obstruction, appropriate action was not taken. It further found that the patient’s family had been reassured the operation had been successful despite clear signs that serious complications had developed.

In addition to the clinical failings, the tribunal found that Dr Abdel Rahman breached professional restrictions placed on his registration by taking up employment in Ireland without informing the General Medical Council (GMC) and later acted dishonestly when questioned about the role.

The panel concluded that Dr Abdel Rahman had ‘failed to recognise the limits of his competence’, had ‘not provided an appropriate standard of care or effective treatment’, and ‘demonstrated no meaningful insight or remediation’. It determined that his misconduct was fundamentally incompatible with continued registration and ordered that his name be erased from the GMC register.

Why this matters

While the tribunal’s decision brings regulatory action to a close, it does not lessen the impact on the patients and families affected.

For those who have suffered harm because of medical treatment, there are often many unanswered questions. Families may be left trying to understand how something so serious could happen, whether opportunities to prevent harm were missed, and what support is available to help them move forward.

Where care has fallen below an acceptable standard, patients deserve openness, accountability and answers.

Francesca Paul, Partner at Fletchers Solicitors, said:

“Having looked at the findings of this tribunal, it is difficult to understand how someone in Dr Abdel Rahman’s position could have continued to care for patients after what was described as ‘a failure to recognise and work within the limits of his competence’ and a failure to provide ‘a good standard of practice and care or effective treatment’.

“The tribunal’s findings paint a deeply concerning picture of repeated failures in both surgical treatment and the care provided afterwards. Every patient has the right to expect safe treatment from healthcare professionals, particularly when they are at their most vulnerable.

“For many families, the disciplinary process is only one part of their journey. They need answers about what happened, why it happened and whether it could have been prevented. They also deserve reassurance that lessons have been learned to help protect future patients.

“Tragically, for some families, those answers come too late. Nothing can undo the devastating impact that avoidable medical errors can have, but understanding what happened can be an important step in helping people find some closure and access the support they need.”

At Fletchers Solicitors, we support people and families whose lives have been changed by avoidable medical mistakes.

Our specialist medical negligence lawyers help clients investigate concerns about their treatment, obtain answers where standards of care may have fallen short, and secure the support they need for the future.

If you believe you or a loved one has suffered because of negligent medical treatment, our team is here to listen and guide you through the next steps.