A leading voice in medical artificial intelligence, Dr. Cian Hughes, has recently found himself at the center of a deeply troubling controversy — one that has reignited public concern about ethics, power dynamics, and the handling of misconduct within the medical profession.
A Friendship That Started in a Hospital Ward
Back in 2011, Hughes was just a 23-year-old medical student doing hospital work experience in Bristol when he met a 13-year-old girl who had been admitted for treatment.
Known only as Patient A, she was preparing to take her GCSEs and recovering from a medical procedure when Hughes began visiting her regularly.
Their connection quickly grew outside the clinical setting.
He encouraged her passion for poetry, praised her talent, and maintained a close relationship that included frequent email exchanges.
Over two years, they discussed everything from school to her medical journey, with Hughes even sharing her personal X-rays and gifting her an iPod for Christmas.
At the time, she referred to him as one of the few adults who truly listened — despite her being a minor and him a trainee doctor.
Romance Begins Years Later, But Questions Remain
The relationship took a dramatic turn in 2014 when, at age 17, Patient A and Hughes reconnected romantically.
At this point, he was a fully qualified doctor and part-time researcher at Google’s DeepMind Health.
They met, kissed, and began exchanging increasingly intimate messages. By the time she turned 18 in 2015, their relationship became sexual.
Over the next few years, they talked about marriage, exchanged inside jokes and gifts, and visited each other’s homes.
But the bond gradually weakened.
Hughes stopped responding to her emails by 2018, effectively ending the relationship without explanation.
Police Report and Disciplinary Action
In 2020, Patient A, now an adult, filed a report with the Metropolitan Police.
Hughes was questioned but never charged.
The case then shifted to the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS), where Hughes was found guilty of serious professional misconduct — but instead of being struck off the register, he received a 12-month suspension.
That decision sparked outrage among patient advocates and campaigners, who saw the ruling as too lenient given the nature of the relationship.
The Patient Speaks Out
Patient A, now 27, criticized the tribunal’s process as “hostile to victims” and said she felt ignored and dismissed throughout.
She explained that her decision to come forward wasn’t about revenge, but about protecting future patients from similar experiences.
She highlighted the emotional weight of the relationship, saying:
“I was young, naïve, and trusted him completely.
There was such a power imbalance, and it’s had lasting consequences on my mental health.
The penalty he got doesn’t reflect the impact he’s had on my life.”
A Pattern of Power Imbalance
The tribunal revealed that Hughes maintained a long-term influence over Patient A — from her early teenage years through to adulthood.
The GMC’s legal representative emphasized how the relationship began with her as a vulnerable child and how Hughes’ position as a trusted medical professional made the dynamic even more complicated.
Messages presented during the hearing showed Patient A looking up to Hughes as a mentor, often seeking his feedback and support — particularly during difficult medical decisions.
Her poetic messages hinted at her emotional dependence on him, while Hughes responded with encouragement and caution about sharing her writing publicly.
The Tribunal’s Verdict Sparks Outcry
Although the MPTS acknowledged that Hughes had acted improperly and abused his professional role, the panel ruled that he hadn’t pursued her during his time as her direct caregiver.
They concluded the most serious misconduct happened after that period, which led them to stop short of full erasure from the medical register.
Campaigners weren’t convinced.
Rebecca Cox from Surviving in Scrubs, a group tackling sexual misconduct in the NHS, said:
“This is part of a troubling pattern.
Sanctions like this don’t reflect the damage done or provide accountability.”
Similarly, Professor Carrie Newlands, a surgeon who works on sexual misconduct issues, added:
“It’s another example of someone in power exploiting a vulnerable patient — and the system failing to take it seriously enough.”
Hughes Issues an Apology, but Critics Say It Falls Short
During the hearing, Hughes expressed regret, calling the complaint “a traumatic personal experience” that made him reflect deeply on his actions.
His legal team argued that he didn’t target Patient A at 13 but rather mishandled the emotional connection later on, claiming he was young, immature, and lacked experience at the time.
Still, the apology did little to sway public opinion.
Many believe that a doctor forming a romantic relationship with someone they first met as a vulnerable 13-year-old patient — no matter the timeline — crosses serious ethical lines.
So What Comes Next?
With his 12-month suspension looming, Dr. Hughes remains a senior figure at Google Health.
Meanwhile, public debate continues over whether current systems truly protect patients — especially when vulnerable individuals are caught in blurred boundaries with medical professionals.
Campaigners are pushing for stricter sanctions and reforms to ensure that professional misconduct doesn’t get lost in legal technicalities or leniency.
For many, Patient A’s story is not just about one man’s misjudgment — it’s about the long-standing imbalance of power between doctors and patients, and a call to do better for those who suffer in silence.