Man struck off over altered X-ray

A hospital radiographer from Greater Manchester who altered an X-ray to hide a needle left in a child's foot, has been struck off by medical watchdogs.

The Health Professionals Council heard Akbar Solaymani cropped the image so the pin was barely detectable.

He put images of both feet in a file and failed to report his findings to anyone at the Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust in Rochdale where he worked.

The child was discharged with the pin still in her foot on 5 September 2006.

The panel heard Mr Solaymani X-rayed the child as it was suspected she had an object lodged in her left foot.

In a later telephone conversation with the Accident and Emergency clinician, who requested the X-rays, Mr Solaymani said the object in the X-ray was a paperclip he had used as a marker.

As a result the child was discharged with the pin still in her foot.

Mr Solaymani did not attend the hearing in Manchester, neither was he represented.

Panel chair Elizabeth Metcalfe said: "The panel considers that in acting as he did Mr Solaymani deliberately acted in a way that he knew at the time conflicted with his responsibilities as a health professional.

"It therefore demonstrates misconduct. His behaviour was clearly not in the best interests of his patient."