Doctor who groped nurse is suspended
MEDIC SEXUALLY ASSAULTED NURSE AT TRAFFORD GENERAL
A DOCTOR who groped a nurse’s breast whilst working at a hospital has been suspended from the profession for a year.
Dr Imran Rauf Qureshi, 44, was convicted by a jury after a trial of a single count of sexual assault in May, last year.
Now a medical tribunal has ruled his fitness to practice is impaired and his name has been suspended from the Medical Register for 12 months.
A hearing was held at the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) at St James’s Buildings on Oxford Street, Manchester,
Qureshi, a married father-of-two, sexually assaulted the nurse by grabbing her breast at Trafford General Hospital while he was working there as a locum.
He was sentenced in June last year by a judge at Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court to a 12-month community order, with a 20-day rehabilitation period.
The medical practitioners tribunal met to consider a case of ‘impairment by reason of a conviction.’
Qureshi told the panel he had offered a ‘sincere and deep-hearted apology’ to her. In a written judgement after hearing evidence, the panel said: “The Tribunal noted that you ignored signs from Ms A that she did not welcome your behaviour.
“The Tribunal considered, given the length of time you had been in the United Kingdom at that stage and the fact you were fully aware of the differences in culture, because of your experiences with your wife, you should have recognised Ms A’s reluctance in light of your shared cultural understanding.
“The Tribunal concluded you showed a lack of empathy towards Ms A and ignored her objections to your behaviour.
“The Tribunal therefore determined that a period of suspension is necessary in order to mark the seriousness of your action and to promote and maintain public confidence in the medical profession.
“Having determined that Dr Qureshi’s name be suspended from the Medical Register for a period of 12 months.”
The MPTS hears cases involving doctors where serious concerns have been raised and as a result, their fitness to practise has been called into question by the GMC.