A consultant who was suspended after performing hernia surgery on a man who died can now return to work without restrictions.

Dr Gideon Lauffer acted “outside his competency” while carrying out the procedure at King George Hospital, Barley Lane, Goodmayes, in September 2007.

The surgeon performed just two similar procedures in the past and was not working with a mentor, the General Medical Council heard.

Dr Lauffer was initially suspended for six months after he was found guilty of misconduct in July 2010.

A subsequent review hearing in January 2011 ruled he was still unfit to practice without supervision.

Dr Lauffer was also found to have assisted in a bowel operation at Spire Roding Hospital, Roding Lane South, Redbridge in March 2008, while he was banned from doing so.

He was suspended for botching four operations and becoming inappropriately involved in a fifth between September 2006 and March 2008.

And charges relating to a patient who was forced to have a testicle removed after the surgeon failed to explain it had been damaged during the procedure were also found proved.

But the surgeon was cleared of culpability in the deaths of two patients treated in September 2006 and February 2007.

He was cleared of acting “outside his competency” after a woman bled to death following surgery, despite admitting a “catalogue of silly, stupid mistakes” had contributed to the blunder.

Dr Lauffer was also cleared of any culpability in the case of John Turk, 43, who died prematurely from cancer after the surgeon failed to refer him to a cancer specialist.

Today, the panel ruled he was able to resume practising again without restrictions, noting he had taken “relevant steps to rectify” past failings.

The surgeon told of his ambition to find a trainee position in emergency medicine, before becoming a consultant.