A doctor previously found guilty of serious sexual misconduct involving a teenage patient has been permitted to resume medical practice within the National Health Service (NHS). Cian Hughes, who was suspended last June following a medical tribunal’s finding that his fitness to practise was impaired, is scheduled to return to patient care in July.

The tribunal’s original ruling detailed that Hughes engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a patient identified as Patient A, who was 13 years old when they first met. Over several years, Hughes sent messages deemed inappropriate and used his professional position to develop a sexual relationship with the woman, who was 17 when the relationship began. The panel noted an age gap of nine years, which it said created a power imbalance likely to have exerted pressure on Patient A, who also uses a wheelchair.

Despite the serious nature of the misconduct, Hughes was not erased from the medical register. In its latest decision, a tribunal concluded he had shown genuine remorse, acknowledged his wrongdoing, and undertaken steps toward remediation. The panel assessed that the likelihood of repeated misconduct was low, justifying his return to clinical practice.

The ruling has sparked significant concern and criticism. Patient A described the decision as “devastating,” accusing the General Medical Council (GMC) of being “actively victim hostile.” She argued that the GMC and the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) have failed to adequately protect vulnerable patients, calling for reforms to prevent future cases from resulting in similarly lenient sanctions. “Unless they are reformed the GMC and the MPTS will continue to fall short of what society deserves, blame and traumatise victims, and betray patients and the medical profession,” she stated.

The case underscores ongoing debates over medical regulation in the UK. Currently, the government is consulting on substantial reforms aimed at improving oversight and disciplinary measures. Proposed changes include automatic removal from the medical register for doctors convicted of serious sexual offences, a new legal duty for the GMC to act swiftly in such cases, and the potential elimination of the so-called "five year rule," which currently limits the regulator’s ability to investigate older allegations of sexual misconduct.

In response to criticism, the GMC has pledged to adopt a zero tolerance stance and proactive approach toward all forms of sexual misconduct among medical practitioners. The proposed regulatory reforms represent the most significant overhaul of medical disciplinary procedures in four decades.