A man who posed as a doctor and carried out illegal circumcisions on NHS patients has been jailed for fraud. Mohammed Alazawi, 38, deceived vulnerable patients into believing he was a qualified medical professional, performing procedures in London clinics while pocketing thousands of pounds.
The Deceptive Scheme
Alazawi, who had no medical qualifications, falsely claimed to be a surgeon and even used NHS branding to appear legitimate. He charged patients up to £600 for circumcisions, some of which led to complications requiring emergency hospital treatment.
How He Was Caught
The fraud came to light when genuine NHS staff became suspicious of Alazawi's activities. An investigation revealed he had forged documents and used fake identities to access medical facilities. Police later found surgical equipment and NHS-branded materials at his home.
Sentencing and Consequences
At Southwark Crown Court, Alazawi was sentenced to five years in prison. Judge Sarah Munro described his actions as "a gross breach of trust" that put vulnerable patients at serious risk. The NHS has since tightened security procedures to prevent similar frauds.
This case highlights the importance of verifying medical credentials and serves as a warning about unregulated healthcare practices.
