Lawyers Urge More Patients To Come Forward So They Can Receive Care And Support They Need

Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust has admitted that more treatments by disgraced doctor Iuliu Stan were negligent, meaning that more patients are potentially eligible for compensation 

In January the Trust admitted that Dr Stan was negligent in administering rectal diclofenac. Now in a letter to expert medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell, representing his patients, the Trust has also admitted liability for patients who had the following treatments:

• Inserted and/or extracted a urinary catheter;
• A rectal examinations 
• Testicular examinations
• Any examination/treatment or touching of the genital area.

Hospital Trust admits doctor's actions were sexually motivated 

Significantly, the Trust also accepts that the above actions were sexually motivated.

Irwin Mitchell is now urging those abused by the doctor to come forward to receive the help and care they’re entitled to.
 
Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust first apologised after Dr Iuliu Stan was found by a tribunal to have subjected male patients to unnecessary treatment for his own sexual gratification. Dr Stan was struck off in February 2024.

Dr Stan, who worked for the Royal Cornwall Hospital NHS Trust between 2015 and 2020 is believed to have treated more than 270 patients.
 
The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) tribunal found the former locum senior house officer in trauma and orthopaedics had subjected men and boys in his care to unnecessary rectal medication. There were also allegations of unnecessary catheterisation, unnecessary examinations of genitalia, and unnecessary rectal examinations.

Lawyer supporting Dr Stan's patients urge others to come forward to receive specialist support

 Tom Fletcher is the specialist lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing several patients. 

Expert Opinion

“Dr Stan’s actions represent an enormous breach of trust by a doctor who used his position to abuse male patients in his care at a time when they were at their most vulnerable and in need of treatment.

“While the Trust’s admissions and apology and are welcome, nothing can make up for the appalling impact on the patients involved. Some were abused with invasive and unnecessary procedures on multiple occasions.

“The accounts of our clients are truly harrowing. We’re committed to supporting them in their recovery.

“Given the nature of these cases, it’s understandable that some of those affected may have concerns coming forward. It’s important we reassure patients that they don’t have to navigate this ordeal alone. They will receive the privacy, understanding and the specialist support they deserve.

“Up until now the Trust’s previous admissions were restricted to a limited number of treatments Dr Stan administered. However, these latest admissions are significant. Not only do they reflect the gravity of his offending but also means scores more patients are likely to be eligible for compensation which will help them access the specialist support they need to try and come to terms with their ordeals the best they can.

“There are also likely to be patients who are unaware or uncertain whether the examinations they underwent, were carried out by Dr Stan. The Trust was easily able to identify those who were administered the rectal diclofenac by virtue of their electronic pharmacy records, but this is unlikely to be as easy for a number of the other treatments such as testicular and rectal examinations and urinary catheterisations, which are more likely to have been handwritten in the patients’ records.

“We call upon the Trust to immediately clarify whether, and if so, how, it intends to identify and notify these patients that they have been negligently treated.

“The Trust owes a duty to these individuals to ensure that they're properly informed and guided through this difficult disclosure. This notification should not be by letter like the previous patients, and careful consideration should be given as to how this news should be broken to them.

“Although some of these actions by Dr Stan at the time may have been or appeared to have been clinically justified, the reality is that Dr Stan got sexual gratification through this, and as such the perception of his patients is likely to be that they’ve been the victims of sexual assault.” Tom Fletcher

Dr Stan’s actions were uncovered by the Trust in 2020 when a patient’s dad became concerned over the length of time the doctor was taking while providing painkilling rectal medication.

Find out more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in supporting patients treated by Dr Stan at our dedicated Iuliu Stan claims section. Alternatively, to speak to an expert contact us or call 0370 1500 100.