27th Aug 2024
Treliske Hospital doctor, Iuliu Stan, struck off for medical misconduct
Dr Iuliu Stan graduated in Romania in 2007 and then worked in the UK for two years as a Senior House Officer before returning to Romania to complete his training in General Trauma Orthopaedics. Dr Stan returned to the UK in 2015 and was employed as a locum at the Treliske Hospital in Truro, Cornwall, as a senior house officer working in the trauma and orthopaedics team. The first complaint was made in 2020 after a father raised concerns about the length of time Dr Stan spent treating his child with a suppository, a method of administering pain relief via the rectum. Dr Stan has not worked at the hospital since September 2020 and he was dismissed in March 2021.
It is alleged that on almost 200 occasions, Dr Stan prescribed and administered medication via the rectum which was said to be for his own sexual gratification, failing to obtain informed consent from the patients or offering alternative medications. Dr Stan treated both children and adults. Following a hearing by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service, the independent tribunal ruled that 21 patients over a five-year period were preyed on by Dr Stan. The mistreatment included unnecessary touching of genitals, using a tube to empty a patient's bladder by inserting it into his penis without clinical justification, administering unnecessary enemas and administering rectal based painkillers on 277 occasions to male patients and to one female patient.
The case has a number of parallels to notorious paedophile Dr Myles Bradbury who was imprisoned in 2014 for sexually assaulting patients in his care at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge. Remarkably both doctors managed to take advantage of vulnerable patients who were receiving medical treatment for a number of years prior to detection. In Dr Bradbury's case, he was a consultant haematologist and most of his victims were suffering blood disorders and some were undergoing cancer treatment. In Dr Stan's case, many of his patients were requiring pain medication as they were awaiting or recovering from significant surgery. Both doctors managed to circumvent hospital chaperone policy and see patients alone conducting inappropriate ‘treatment.’
Whilst Dr Stan is yet to face criminal proceedings, he has nevertheless been struck off the medical register. Samantha Robson from Devon-based firm Robsonshaw, has represented hundreds of victims of sexual abuse over the past 20 years, including numerous victims of Dr Bradbury comments, " No patient receiving hospital treatment should be subject to sexually inappropriate behaviour. We need to do more to prevent sexual abuse in our hospitals. Patients receiving treatment are often in an extremely vulnerable position and sometimes uncertain as to the appropriateness of a procedure. Dr Bradbury abused his position for almost 5 years prior to his abuse coming to light. He gained the trust of his patients and their parents, before then abusing his position by conducting unnecessary examinations of their genitals. Sadly, it would appear Dr Stan has used a similar modus operandi to take advantage of his position of trust and power at Treliske Hospital."
Robsonshaw are already supporting individuals affected by this scandal. For free, no obligation and confidential help please contact either Sam or Robert at enquiries@robsonshaw.uk, or telephone Sam on her direct dial (01392) 345331 or Robert on (01392) 345332.
Category: News Updates