A senior hospital anaesthetist has been permanently barred from practising medicine after a tribunal found he engaged in a sexual act with a sedated patient during an operation.
Dr. Rauf Ahmad, who worked at Tameside Hospital in Greater Manchester, was found to have committed an egregious breach of trust by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS). The shocking incident occurred while the female patient was under sedation for a procedure.
The tribunal heard how Dr. Ahmad's actions were discovered by a nurse who witnessed the consultant's misconduct in the operating theatre. The nurse immediately reported the incident, triggering a major investigation by hospital authorities and the General Medical Council (GMC).
Serious Professional Misconduct
The MPTS panel determined that Dr. Ahmad's behaviour constituted serious professional misconduct and fundamentally breached the ethical standards expected of medical professionals. His actions were described as exploitative and sexually motivated towards a vulnerable patient who was entirely dependent on his care.
In their ruling, the tribunal stated that his behaviour was "deplorable and incompatible with continued registration as a doctor." The decision to strike him off the medical register was made to maintain public confidence in the medical profession and to protect patients.
Hospital Response and Patient Safety
Tameside Hospital NHS Foundation Trust confirmed that Dr. Ahmad was immediately suspended when the allegations surfaced and has not worked at the trust since. A hospital spokesperson stated: "We expect all our staff to uphold the highest standards of professional behaviour. When these serious allegations were raised, we took immediate action."
The case has raised serious questions about patient safety and oversight within medical settings. Healthcare professionals have emphasized that such incidents are extremely rare but demonstrate the critical importance of robust safeguarding protocols and the courage of staff to speak up when they witness wrongdoing.
The GMC, which brought the case against Dr. Ahmad, welcomed the tribunal's decision, stating it reflects the severity of the misconduct and the paramount importance of maintaining patient trust in the medical profession.
