I’m French, doctor accused of sexual harassment argues

A DOCTOR who denied sexual harassment allegations and insisted that being French meant he was a “humorous and touching person” has been suspended for three months.

Thierry Bonnin told a female colleague, known as “Dr A”, at Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, to sit on his knee while they looked at a patient’s scan.

He also pinched her ears, touched her leg and made inappropriate remarks, telling her she could practise examinations on him.

Dr Bonnin, who qualified in 1982 and specialises in urology, admitted to touching his colleague’s ears and leg but claimed he had never before received a complaint about his behaviour, adding that he regularly hugs people when he sees them.

But the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service suspended him after ruling that his conduct in 2018 and 2019 was of a “sexual nature”. In a written statement to the tribunal in Manchester, which he did not attend, Dr Bonnin said because he is from the south of France he is a “humorous and touching person”.

Acknowledging that his actions could be “seen as harassment on the grounds of sex” under the Equality Act 2010, he added: “I strongly deny that my conduct was sexual in nature as alleged or at all. I admit that I touched Dr A by pinching her ears, tapping her knee and asking her to examine my fists.

“However, the pinching and tapping was done in jest when she answered a question incorrectly.

“Accordingly, although my actions were unwanted and inappropriate, the touching was not at any time sexual in nature or related to sex.”

A statement from the junior doctor said: “Dr Bonnin’s groin was level with my face, he was wearing scrubs and pretended to undo the tie on his waist and said, ‘You can practise if you like’. I was completely shocked. I didn’t say anything because I was so shocked.”