G20 pathologist is struck off

Pathologist Freddy Patel has been struck off the medical register after a medical tribunal condemned his handling of postmortem tests on a man who died during the G20 protests in London in 2009.

The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service said Patel, who carried out the first postmortem tests on Ian Tomlinson and wrongly maintained he died from a heart attack, should no longer be able to practise as a doctor in the UK.

Patel, who has been suspended twice previously for failings in relation to postmortem examinations, was found guilty of misconduct, deficient professional performance, and dishonesty.1

Niall Dickson, chief executive of the General Medical Council, welcomed the decision.

He …