Surgeon said Indian colleagues ‘were only fit to clean the toilets’
A SURGEON claimed Indian doctors should ‘clean toilets and not practise medicine’ during a series of racist rants, a tribunal heard yesterday.
Ragheb Nouman, who is Syrian, allegedly told hospital colleagues that Indians were ‘taking over’ and would be the ‘downfall of the NHS’.
When a complaint was made about him to bosses, the 52-yearold refused to back down.
He accused Indian doctors of being ‘rude and cheeky’ and said they should be cleaners or gardeners instead, it was alleged.
Later in emails to medical watchdogs, the father of three – who was working as a locum at University Hospital of Hartlepool in County Durham – denied being racist.
But the hearing was told he then added: ‘I will never accept to be insulted by cheeky Indian doctors,
‘Does this man look like a doctor?’
whereas I do respect polite Indian doctors. I am not racist but I hate cheeky people, and you must understand that complaint was false and fabricated by that liar Indian so you can throw it in a rubbish bin.’
The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service heard the first incidents occurred in July 2012, just weeks after Nouman had started working at the trust in May. He was overheard arguing with colleagues on a ward, allegedly telling one: ‘I don’t understand you Indian bastards.’
When a female staff member called him into her office to defuse the situation, he was claimed to have said: ‘The only reason that I have been brought in for this discussion is because of the Indian doctors that have reported me.
‘I am not racist, I have no problem with Arabs or Jews, only with Indians and the Indian population. Indian doctors will be the downfall of the NHS. They are very bad and have given me a difficult time. English doctors are good, European doctors are good, Jewish doctors are good, just the bloody Indians. I have had enough of Indians.’
Nouman was dismissed on July 9, but returned to the hospital the following day and spoke to clinical director Dr Christopher Tulloch to deny racism, it was claimed.
The Manchester hearing was told he also approached one of the complainants, known as Mr B, at a bus stop and said: ‘Does this man look like a doctor? You Indian bastard.’ Nouman was referred to the General Medical Council (GMC) and an investigations officer spoke to him by phone in August 2012.
The hearing was told Nouman was asked about a man known as Mr D during the call, to which he replied: ‘Is Mr D an Indian? I have been having many problems with Indian doctors. If Mr D is English then that’s OK. If Mr D is Indian, the complaint is a waste of time.’
He added: ‘Indians should clean toilets, not practise medicine. Indians should be gardeners.’
The hearing was told Nouman later went to work as a locum at NHS Highland in Scotland without telling the trust he was subject to fitness to practise proceedings. He was suspended in May 2013.
Dr Nouman, who is representing himself at the tribunal, repeatedly denied misconduct and racism, adding: ‘I have friends from India.’
But giving evidence against him, Dr Tulloch said: ‘Why on Earth would I go out of my way and go through the additional stress of bringing about allegations that were false?
‘You said that you couldn’t trust Indians as they are going to take us all over.’ The hearing continues.