Asian doctor dismissed in UK for wrong post-mortem

Freddy Patel, who gained his medical degree from the University of Zambia in 1974, has been practising as a pathologist for 35 years.

He had wrongly said that one Ian Tomlinson, a newspaper seller not linked to the protests, died from heart problems after being pushed to the ground by the police.

A medical tribunal had earlier concluded he acted with "deficient professional performance".

Patel's conclusion that Tomlinson died of cardiac arrest was questioned when a recording emerged showing him being pushed and struck with a baton by the police.

Further medical reports suggested he had actually died from an injury to his liver that caused internal bleeding and then cardiac arrest.

The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service said Patel's work was "deficient" and ruled that he was not fit to practise.

In total, 68 failings were identified by the service in Patel's work on the case of Tomlinson.

The Rev Robert Lloyd-Richards, who chairs the MPTS fitness to practise panel, said Patel had an "unwarranted confidence" in his ability, "a deep-seated attitudinal problem" and also "lacked insight".

Niall Dickson, chief executive of the General Medical Council, said: "This means he is no longer able to practise as a doctor in the UK. We asked for him to be removed from the register as the best way of protecting the public because his conduct fell far below the standards we expect of a doctor."