A Birmingham doctor, Dr Eren Battaloglu, has been struck off the medical register following serious misconduct that included drug abuse and an improper relationship with a patient. Battaloglu, who worked at Soho Health Centre and Kirpal Medical Centre for six years, was deemed a “high risk” to public safety after a General Medical Council (GMC) hearing concluded on April 23.
The tribunal heard that Battaloglu engaged in a sexual relationship with a vulnerable patient, referred to as Ms A, despite knowing her significant mental health issues and drug dependency. The patient stated she had met the doctor through what she described as an online dating or hookup site, while Battaloglu claimed it was an escort site and initially denied recognizing her. He admitted to sending her explicit WhatsApp messages, asking her to buy illegal drugs, visiting her home to drink alcohol, and providing her with around £900 in multiple payments, the reasons for which remained unclear.
Ms A disclosed to Battaloglu that she was pregnant with his child, after which the doctor offered to refer her for an abortion — a clear violation of professional boundaries given their personal involvement. When the patient was informed it was too late for termination, Battaloglu discussed methods to induce abortion, including recommending specific medications.
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Although Battaloglu stated that he has since addressed his drug use and is now clean, the GMC panel found him to still pose an ongoing risk to the public’s health and safety. His representative characterized the incidents as an isolated episode in an otherwise unblemished career, but the tribunal found that Battaloglu demonstrated insufficient reflection on the harm caused to Ms A, focusing primarily on the repercussions for himself and his family.
Concluding that his fitness to practise was impaired by misconduct, the tribunal ruled that erasure from the medical register was the only appropriate sanction. Dr Battaloglu’s name was officially removed from the register, and his registration was suspended with immediate effect.
Since qualifying in 2013, Battaloglu completed GP training in hospitals and GP practices across Birmingham and worked as a locum in Sandwell and City Hospital’s Accident & Emergency department before his misconduct came to light.