BBC News | HEALTH | Richard Neale: The victims

Victims of Richard Neale say that the gynaecologist has ruined their lives.
It appears that many women suffered at the hands of Mr Neale during the 14 years that he was allowed to practise in the UK.

BBC News Online highlights the cases of just some of those women.

A 73-year-old great-grandmother, known as RJB:

She was operated on several times for a bladder complaint by Mr Neale, who was her consultant between 1988 and 1995.

As a result of the surgery, she says her sex life has been ruined, and she is in permanent state of discomfort.

She said: "I'm having mental health treatment now and I believe it's all down to him.

"What he's done to me will be with me for the rest of my life - he has ruined my life.

"I would like to be locked in a room with him, with all the other ladies involved, so we could deal with him ourselves."

RJB said she was "absolutely disgusted" that Neale was allowed to practice in Britain after being struck off in Canada.

"The system needs changing - I cannot believe he did damage while he was in Canada yet was still allowed to come into this country and do horrible things to us. I've ended up a terrible wreck.

"I'm so relieved that the case against him has been proved, but I'm concerned the same mistakes might be made again.

"I just hope the hospitals and the GMC have learned their lessons from what happened to us."

Margaret Bright, 54, of Thirsk, North Yorkshire:

Mr Neale carried out a hysterectomy on Mrs Bright in 1991 after she suggested the operation to him because her mother had suffered from womb cancer.

Mrs Bright said she lost three pints of blood in the operation and spent several days in hospital.

When she was sent home she had still not recovered.

She said: "I'm now suffering from arthritis of all my muscles, tendons and ligaments. I totally blame him. It has ruined my life.

"Neale is an animal - a blood-thirsty animal.

"He has ruined my life and deserves all he gets."

Sheila Wright-Hogeland, 52, of Fadmore, North Yorkshire:

Sheila Wright-Hogeland was left with searing pain "like a lightning bolt" for years because Mr Neale failed to diagnose the serious gynaecological condition of endometriosis.

Sheila Wright-Hogeland was told to expect pain

The disgraced gynaecologist told her she was simply suffering from "period pains" and that she should "grin and bear it."

Mr Neale continued to reassure Ms Wright-Hogeland that she was fit and well, until an ultrasound scan revealed a cystic mass in her abdomen.

In February 1995 she underwent a complete hysterectomy, when numerous cysts, including one the size of a grapefruit, were removed.

After the operation, Mr Neale said it had been the worst case of its type he had ever seen.

When she was discharged from hospital, Neale took only "a cursory glance" at her wounds.

The next day her whole pelvic area was inflamed, but when she saw Neale he accused her of not taking antibiotics when she was in hospital.

When the pain increased and the infection appeared not to clear up, she tried in vain to make an appointment to see the gynaecologist.

Eventually she saw him to raise concerns about his treatment of her - a meeting at which she said he was "belligerent and arrogant."

She said he asked her if she was planning to sue him and he said: "Do not bother to sue me, you will spend thousands and thousands and you will not get anywhere.

"I work as an expert witness and I know how the system works. I have friends in high places."

Ms Wright-Hogeland was eventually admitted to hospital where she spent 10 days receiving intensive treatment to cure the infection.


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