Source: Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) published on this website Friday 17 January 2025 by Jill Powell
A former surgeon has been jailed for a combined total of more than five and-a-half years (67 months) today (Wednesday 15 January) at Inner London Crown Court having admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm, child cruelty and administering a prescription only medicine to several young and vulnerable patients whilst ignoring basic hygiene rules and performing non-therapeutic male circumcision whilst ignoring basic hygiene rules and performing non-therapeutic male circumcisions.
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.
A serious organised crime prevention order was granted after being sought by the Crown Prosecution Service, which would prevent Dr Siddiqui from undertaking non-therapeutic circumcision following his release from custody. Without such an order or any license provision he could engage in these activities. For this reason, the order would be significant to safeguard children in the future.
