Over a fourth of physicians charged with sexually inappropriate behavior still permitted to work, as confirmed by an examination.
The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS), an independent UK authority responsible for upholding professional standards in medicine, is facing criticism following a review of cases involving doctors accused of sexual misconduct. The review, conducted in response to separate cases highlighted in the British Medical Journal, found that in several instances, the MPTS handed down lenient sanctions, sparking concerns about professional standards and public confidence.
The review, published in The Bulletin of the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS), revealed that out of 222 new MPTS cases between August 2023 and 2024, 55 centered around sexual misconduct. In some cases, the General Medical Council (GMC) argued for the doctors to be struck off, but the MPTS only gave them a suspension. For instance, an acute medical consultant was found guilty of rape but only received a 12-month suspension by the MPTS in 2024.
The findings have been met with strong criticism from within the medical community. Professor Vivien Lees, vice president of the Royal College of Surgeons England (RCS), stated that the findings risk 'leaving perpetrators in power.' Tamzin Cuming and Professor Carrie Newlands, from the working party on sexual misconduct in surgery, added that the system gives little more than a 'gm' for abuse, when only erasure and accountability can ensure safety.
The GMC, on the other hand, takes a 'zero tolerance' approach to sexual misconduct and often asks for doctors to be struck off the medical register. In all the cases mentioned, the GMC called for the doctors to be banned from practicing. The GMC can and does appeal when it feels the sanctions applied by the independent tribunal are too lenient.
The MPTS has acknowledged the impact of their work and tribunal decisions on those involved and has pledged to publish a 'casetify' of guidance for tribunals. A spokesperson for the MPTS stated that the new guidance will cover all aspects of the hearings conducted by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service.
The review also highlighted that all 46 doctors in question were male, and almost 80% held positions of authority. Approximately 24% of MPTS cases analyzed ended in a suspension for doctors found guilty of sexual misconduct or accused of sexual assault, harassment, or offenses against children.
One case involved a doctor who had a sexual relationship with a vulnerable patient, pursuing and grooming the patient from the age of 14. The doctor was suspended for 12 months after being found guilty. Another case involved a transplant surgeon who was given an eight-month suspension for non-consensual touching during surgery last year.
The specific nature of the non-consensual touching in the theatre for the cases mentioned was not provided. However, the review and the subsequent criticism underscore the need for stricter sanctions and a more robust system to address sexual misconduct in the medical profession.
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