Former surgeon jailed for five and-a-half years after admitting offences including assault occasioning actual bodily harm and child cruelty during multiple male circumcision operations

One for you @Sneedman

Dr Mohammad Siddiqui, 58, from Birmingham pleaded guilty at Southwark Crown Court on 29 October 2024 to a total of 25 offences which included, 11 counts of actual bodily harm, 6 counts of cruelty to a child and 8 counts of administering prescription only medicines contrary to the law. The prosecution was brought because of the methods Siddiqui used which showed a complete disregard to patient health, safety and comfort in private residences between 2014 and 2018.

Between June 2012 and November 2013, Dr Siddiqui provided a private mobile circumcision service whilst working asclinical fellow in paediatric surgery at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust. In this capacity he was able to source the anaesthetic Bupivacaine Hydrochloride which is a prescription only medication.

In 2015 Siddiqui was 'struck off' the General Medical Council Register after a panel of the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service found him guilty of failures in performing non-therapeutic male circumcisions in the homes of four babies.

Despite having been 'struck off', Dr Siddiqui continued to promote and provide a mobile circumcision service. No longer being considered a 'Health Care Professional' he was able to do so because non-therapeutic male circumcision is unregulated with no requirement to be carried out by a medical practitioner. Dr Siddiqui continued to use Bupivacaine Hydrochloride and carry out circumcisions in unsafe, unsanitary and harmful ways. He advertised his services across the United Kingdom and by appointment performed non-therapeutic male circumcisions on young patients up to the age of 14 in their homes.