Giridhar Katti was guilty of professional misconduct

A surgeon who carried the hepatitis B virus and performed operations which put patients at risk has been struck off.

Giridhar Katti, of Arnold, Nottingham, was told he could not perform certain procedures following a blood assessment which found his viral count had exceeded permissible levels.

Despite this he continued to apply for locum positions "giving no indication that he was carrying the hepatitis B virus", the General Medical Council in Manchester found.

His actions were ruled to be "inappropriate, dishonest, misleading and not in the best interest of the patients".

The hearing earlier heard although Mr Katti "fully understood" he could no longer perform invasive surgery which exposes the worker to the patient's tissue, known as Exposure Prone Procedure, he "did not accept it".

Hepatitis B is the most common serious liver infection

Mr Katti had contracted hepatitis B several years ago but had been able to train as a general surgeon under medical guidelines at the time.

But "the goal posts changed" in June 2000 with the introduction of new guidelines, GMC solicitor Philip Grundy told the hearing.

As a result, Mr Katti underwent a blood assessment in December 2000.

It was found his viral count exceeded permissible levels for Exposure Prone Procedure, or EPP, and he was told by an occupational health specialist that he would be unable to carry out the work he had trained in for several years.

Keith Rigg, a surgeon at Nottingham City Hospital where Mr Katti worked in July 2001, told the hearing he would not have employed the surgeon if he had known he was a hepatitis B carrier.

"I was surprised and concerned when I found out as it meant he couldn't fulfil what we had employed him to do," he said.

A reprimand in these circumstances would clearly be insufficient Roland Doven

Mr Katti was also employed at Lincoln City Hospital, Eastbourne District General Hospital and applied to a number of other hospitals, failing to disclose his condition.

Finding him guilty of serious professional misconduct, chairman of the Professional Conduct Committee Roland Doven said Mr Katti's behaviour was "discreditable".

He said: "Mr Katti's behaviour was not only discreditable to himself but also undermines the confidence the public should be able to place in the integrity of members of the medical profession.

"The potential danger from Mr Katti's medical condition is obvious. A reprimand in these circumstances would clearly be insufficient."

Mr Katti did not attend the hearing.