Paediatric Doctor Stripped of License for Sending Explicit Images to Teenager
A paediatric doctor has been permanently removed from the medical register after being found guilty of sending indecent images to a 15-year-old boy he encountered through his professional duties. Dr Thomas O'Neill, aged 37, was struck off by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) following a hearing that revealed disturbing details of his predatory behaviour.
Predatory Actions and Court Conviction
O'Neill was convicted at Edinburgh Sheriff Court in February 2025 for indecent communications, after repeatedly contacting the teenager on WhatsApp, Snapchat, and via phone calls for sexual gratification. The offences occurred between November 2019 and May 2020, while O'Neill was working in the Accident and Emergency department at Edinburgh Sick Kids Hospital.
According to court documents, the doctor, who was 31 at the time, coerced the boy into viewing images of his penis. He avoided a prison sentence and instead received an 18-month community payback order with supervision, along with sex offender notification requirements.
Tribunal Hearing Exposes Chilling Details
The MPTS tribunal heard that O'Neill initially met the victim, then aged 14, through a colleague. In November 2019, while driving with the boy as a passenger, he inappropriately questioned the teenager about his masturbation habits. Months later, he began sending explicit messages on WhatsApp before progressing to sharing pictures of his penis on Snapchat.
The tribunal was told that O'Neill informed the child he was purchasing sex toys and subsequently visited the boy's home to deliver a silicone device. After being blocked by the victim, O'Neill attempted to re-establish contact using various male and female usernames on different platforms. He posed under another male identity, asked if the boy was gay, and sent a penis image while inquiring if the teenager recognised his genitals.
Professional Consequences and Tribunal Ruling
MPTS tribunal chair Lee Davies stated that O'Neill's actions severely undermined public trust in the medical profession and brought it into disrepute. "Dr O'Neill's actions of sending explicit images and messages to a child fall far short of proper professional standards," Davies said. "His lack of insight into the seriousness of his behaviour, coupled with his failure to remediate, were significant factors in our decision."
The tribunal concluded that protecting the public and maintaining the profession's reputation outweighed O'Neill's interests, leading to his permanent erasure from the medical register. He is no longer employed by NHS Lothian, with a spokesperson emphasising that the organisation expects all staff to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and patient care.
Background and Aftermath
O'Neill graduated from the University of Brighton and the University of Sussex in 2013, registering with the General Medical Council the following year. He also worked as a research fellow at Edinburgh University during his medical career. In publicly available YouTube videos, he was seen providing support to LGBT staff members.
This case highlights critical safeguarding failures within healthcare settings and demonstrates the severe consequences for medical professionals who breach ethical boundaries with vulnerable patients.
