A doctor who admitted removing two women's ovaries without their permission is set to face a new fitness-to-practise hearing after his regulator won a High Court challenge.
Dr Ali Shokouh-Amiri was found guilty of misconduct by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal in February 2025 and issued with a warning, with the panel deciding that his fitness to practise was not impaired.
Allegations while employed in Guernsey
It was alleged that while working at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital in Guernsey, Dr Shokouh-Amiri behaved in an inappropriate or sexually motivated manner towards four patients. There were also allegations of dishonesty and failing to have a chaperone present.
The gynaecologist admitted removing two women's ovaries without their permission, including one case where no medical necessity was indicated, but denied the other allegations.
High Court ruling
The Medical Practitioners Tribunal found claims that Dr Shokouh-Amiri had embraced and kissed a patient proved, but decided it did not constitute misconduct. Other allegations concerning inappropriate and sexually motivated behaviour were not proved.
The tribunal found other proven allegations, including the ovary removal and proposing that a patient accompany him to the gym, amounted to misconduct. Nevertheless, it ruled his fitness to practise was not impaired and that there was a low risk of Dr Shokouh-Amiri placing patients at risk of unwarranted harm.
The General Medical Council (GMC) appealed against the tribunal's decision at the High Court in late 2025. In a ruling handed down on Friday, Mr Justice Morris sided with the GMC, concluding that the tribunal had reached decisions on five sets of allegations that were "wrong or unjust".
Referral back to tribunal
The judge provisionally indicated the matter should be referred back to the Medical Practitioners Tribunal to reconsider those allegations and whether Dr Shokouh-Amiri's fitness to practise remained impaired.
In the 70-page judgment, Mr Justice Morris noted the tribunal's reasoning was "at times very brief and at other times makes little sense".
The judge stated: "The tribunal, at various points, made clear errors of fact, failed to consider important evidence, did not explain why it did not believe Patient F's evidence, and made statements which contradicted the evidence, and at times statements which did not make sense."
Mr Justice Morris rejected part of the GMC's challenge concerning how the tribunal assessed propensity in Dr Shokouh-Amiri's case.
He stated: "Even if the allegations in relation to Patient F are proved, I do not accept that they alone could have tipped the balance in relation to Patient A and Patient D. Any propensity arising from findings in relation to Patient F should not be permitted to bolster those weak, and unchallenged, cases."
A GMC spokesperson commented: "We welcome the High Court's decision to allow our appeal. The court agreed that the tribunal made errors when considering the very serious allegations against Dr Ali Shokouh-Amiri, with the judgment noting that at various points, clear errors of fact were made and the tribunal failed to consider important evidence. We will continue to challenge tribunal decisions where we believe the outcome is insufficient to protect the public."
