Dr Imran Qureshi, a 44-year-old doctor from Pakistan working in the UK had to register in the countrywide sex offenders list but will be allowed to keep his job after appearing before the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service in Manchester.
During proceedings, the panel concluded that erasing his name from the Medical Register “would be disproportionate, punitive and not in the public interest.” He did receive a one-year suspension.
Doctor Qureshi groped a 21-year-old student nurse last year. He had grabbed the girl in a hospital by the breasts and said he wanted an affair as, in his mind, she was ‘sexually available’ due to her having had boyfriends.
In his defense before the Medical Register, Doctor Qureshi blamed different ‘cultural norms.’
His lawyer, Mr Lee Gledhill stated: “This was a moment of madness, a short, brief period of touching due to him misreading the signals. It has had a profound impact on his personal and financial life but he has had a long time to think about his actions and he is extremely remorseful.”
The young girl, identified for the court proceedings as Miss A, was ‘shaken up and distraught’ after the incident occurred at Trafford General Hospital in Davyhulme, Greater Manchester.
The chairman of the Medical Panel, Mr Nicholas Flanagan said to the accused doctor: “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 recognized Ms A’s reluctance in light of your shared cultural understanding.”
“The Tribunal concluded there is a low but nevertheless not insignificant risk of harm to another individual by a repetition of your behavior. You stated this was an isolated case, and that you will never cross boundaries in this manner again. You told the Tribunal you are the main culprit, that you and your family suffered, as well as the complainant and her family.
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