Ian Tomlinson pathologist guilty of misconduct

A general Medical Council disciplinary panel yesterday ruled that Dr Freddy Patel, the pathologist who carried out the first autopsy on Ian Tomlinson who died at last year's G20 protest, acted in a way that amounted to misconduct in two earlier post-mortem examinations.

The panel also ruled that Dr Patel had displayed deficient professional performance in a third post-mortem examination.

Dr Patel, 63, was said by the panel to have behaved irresponsibly, failed to meet standards expected of a Home Office pathologist and acted in a way liable to bring the profession into disrepute when he changed a woman's cause of death in 2005.

Richard Davies, the panel chairman, told the pathologist: "The panel has concluded that you deliberately ignored the guidelines so as to carry out the post-mortem examination simply at a time of your own convenience, and very shortly before radiographers would have been readily available.

"Against that background the panel has concluded that your acts and omissions amount to misconduct."

The panel is expected to make a decision on sanctions later this week. Dr Patel has already been suspended from the Home Office register of forensic pathologists amid questions about his post-mortem examination of Mr Tomlinson.