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The high-stakes career of Dr. Attiya Sheikh, once a respected medical professional at Hairmyres Hospital, now teeters on the brink of permanent erasure. Following a ten-month prison sentence for her role in a "greedy" pandemic-era profiteering scheme, the 46-year-old physician has been summoned to appear before the Medical Practitioners Tribunals Service (MPTS) on February 9, 2026. This hearing represents the final reckoning for a woman who traded a lifetime of medical training for a relatively paltry sum of illicit cash.
A Career Sacrificed for Short-Term Profit
The details of the case highlight a staggering lapse in judgment. Between May and October 2020—a period defined by global panic and a desperate shortage of protective gear—Dr. Sheikh and her husband, 48-year-old Omer Sheikh, operated a digital "fencing" operation from their home. They were caught selling stolen NHS Scotland supplies, including surgical gloves, face masks, and sanitizing wipes, on eBay. While the world watched frontline workers risk their lives without adequate protection, the Sheikhs were profiting to the tune of just £7,827. For a doctor earning a significant NHS salary, the decision to risk a six-figure career and social standing for less than £8,000 has left the medical community and the public in disbelief.
Background of the Sheikhs and the Investigation
The couple, of British-Pakistani heritage, had built a life centered around the prestige of the medical profession before their fall from grace. Dr. Sheikh’s education and subsequent placement in the South Lanarkshire health system were seen as hallmarks of a successful immigrant success story until the investigation by NHS Scotland’s Counter Fraud Services unraveled their secondary "business." The scheme was exposed when Fannin, a major supplier, noticed their exclusive medical products being auctioned online by private sellers. A subsequent police raid on the couple's property revealed 121 boxes of medical supplies hidden in their attic, alongside various electronic devices used to facilitate the sales.
The Impending Tribunal and Professional Erasure
Having already served time behind bars following their sentencing at Paisley Sheriff Court in July 2025, Attiya Sheikh now faces the Medical Practitioners Tribunals Service. Legal experts suggest that the "egregious breach of trust" cited by Sheriff Sukhwinder Gill makes a "striking off" order—the permanent removal of her license to practice medicine—the most likely outcome. The tribunal will formally inquire into her convictions for reset (receiving stolen goods), focusing on the fact that her actions directly undermined the safety of her own colleagues during a national emergency.
The Legacy of Greed and the Next Steps
The fallout for the Sheikh family has been absolute. Dr. Sheikh was dismissed by the NHS within 24 hours of her guilty plea, and the upcoming February hearing is expected to be a swift formality in closing the door on her medical future. The case serves as a grim reminder of how quickly a decade of professional excellence can be dismantled by a momentary pursuit of illicit gain. As the MPTS prepares to deliver its verdict, the medical community views this not just as a criminal matter, but as a total collapse of the ethical foundation required to wear the white coat.
