A world-renowned British neurologist will be dismissed today as director of Singapore's National Neuroscience Institute after an inquiry concluded he had acted unethically, exposed patients to risks without suitable assessment, and breached patient confidentiality and disregarded their dignity while overseeing a research project into Parkinson's disease.

Simon Shorvon, 54, and three of his subordinates, including Nicholas Wood from the Institute of Neurology in London, may also face legal action. Some of the patients have filed reports with police, who are investigating.

Michael Lim, chairman of Singapore's National Healthcare Group, said yesterday when the inquiry's findings were made public that Prof Shorvon was being fired only after he had said in writing that he accepted the inquiry's report and its conclusions.

"Based on Prof Shorvon's response and the unanimous recommendations of the NNI [executive committee] to terminate the services of Prof Shorvon, the NHG board endorsed the [dismissal] as of tomorrow," he said.

Prof Shorvon was unavailable for comment yesterday. In response to inquiries his lawyer referred to his letter, which simply states: "I accept the report and the conclusions therein."

The scandal broke in January after patients with Parkinson's complained that tests had been done without their consent or that of their doctors.

The inquiry found that Prof Shorvon's team altered 62 patients' drug dosages without explaining what they were doing or telling their GPs.

The risks patients were exposed to included high fever, kidney failure, hypothermia, spasm, hypertension and twisting of the tongue.

He also did not obtain approval from the relevant medical ethics committees before conducting the tests.