Glasgow doctor falsely diagnosed kids with cancer so parents forked out for private care

Dr Mina Chowdhury, who became a full-time paediatrician at NHS Forth Valley in 2013, was found to have recommended treatment linked to his loss-making private medical firms Meras Healthcare and Meras Global.

His case, relating to private work between March and August 2017, was put before the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) on Tuesday.

In documents seen by the Glasgow Times, the watchdog determined Chowdhury was "financially motivated" and "dishonest" during his recommendations with three sets of parents.

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On each occasion, Chowdhury was found to have "created an unwarranted sense of concern".

He told the worried parents of a 15-month-old girl, known as Patient C, that she had a lump in her leg which was a "soft tissue sarcoma, or words to that effect".

Chowdhury said it "would be confusing to return back to the NHS", adding he "knew a doctor in London" who could arrange for an ultrasound, MRI and biopsy. 

The watchdog also reports that, despite his diagnosis, the doctor did not arrange an immediate referral to the NHS - blaming waiting times among other excuses.

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Chowdhury also, "without sufficient clinical justification to do so at the time", told the parent of a teen girl - Patient A - that she had "neuroblastoma in her stomach which could spread if untreated."

He said: "We are going to have the conversation that all parents dread. We are going to have to talk about the 'C' word". 

He then said the child would need to travel to London for tests.

He also claimed Patient B, a 30-month-old boy, may have blood cancer - but insisted there are "no places in Scotland where echocardiograms could be performed on children."

The panel will now consider whether or not Chowdhury can continue to practice.