NHS trust admits liability in doctor abuse case

The Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust (RCHT) has admitted liability and extended an unreserved apology after a doctor sexually abused patients.

Dr Iuliu Stan, who has been struck off the medical register, was found by a medical practitioners tribunal in 2024 to have subjected mainly male patients, including children, to unnecessary intimate and invasive procedures for his own sexual gratification.

The tribunal heard 37 anonymous patients and a further undisclosed number were sent a letter by the RCHT in January and July last year.

The trust said: "Whilst we must follow due legal process, we will be doing everything we can to bring investigations and claims made by his victims to an early conclusion."

Dr Stan was a former locum senior house officer in trauma and orthopaedics at the RCHT from 2015 to 2020.

The misconduct hearing last year found he had prescribed and administered rectal medication personally on more than 200 occasions and sometimes multiple times to the same patient.

"It was noted that he only administered this medication to male patients and was failing to follow the chaperone policy," the hearing found.

It also heard Dr Stan had failed to obtain informed consent from patients and failed to offer alternative medications.

Rachel Pearce, head of personal injury and clinical negligence at Coodes Solicitors, said: "This is a milestone in these claims because they [RCHT] are admitting liability in full.

"[I am] really pleased and relieved for my clients that haven't got to go through the stress of fighting their claims.

"They [RCHT] have been very sensitive and dealt with it very quickly, expedited us getting records for our clients, which can sometimes take a long time."

Ms Pearce said her clients experienced shock on receiving the letters by the RCHT about the abuse.

Dr Stan had left the country and was now living in Romania, she added.

Thompsons Solicitors, which is also working with victims, said the RCHT had made "a crucial step towards justice".

"It also acknowledged that Dr Stan's conduct constituted a clear breach of professional duties and admitted that his prescription and administration of rectal medication to certain patients was negligent," the firm said.

Matthew Jones, from the firm's medical negligence team, added: "Based on the evidence and patterns of behaviour outlined in the tribunal's report, we believe there may be hundreds of victims who suffered under his care.

"We urge anyone who may have been affected to come forward and seek the support they need."

The RCHT said: "We have written to affected individuals to admit liability for the actions of Dr Stan and to offer an unreserved apology to victims.

"We are deeply sorry for the distress caused by his serious professional misconduct and his abuse of the trust placed in him by patients.

"Whilst we must follow due legal process, we will be doing everything we can to bring investigations and claims made by his victims to an early conclusion."

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