A doctor who left the UK following allegations of sexual assault and harassment has been removed from the medical register after a disciplinary tribunal concluded his conduct towards a junior colleague was "fundamentally incompatible" with continued practice.
The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) found Dr Jawad Ahmad had sexually harassed a colleague while both were employed at Royal Stoke University Hospital in 2020. The misconduct hearing, held in his absence, found multiple incidents of inappropriate behaviour and concluded this warranted erasure from the register.
Allegations and tribunal findings
The tribunal heard allegations that Dr Ahmad made repeated requests to visit the colleague — referred to in proceedings as Ms A — to collect books, and that on 11 June 2020 he took her into an office, pushed her down into a chair, massaged her back and shoulders and kissed her. The panel also considered that he had not disclosed to his employer that he had been arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting a teenage girl in June 2020.
"Predatory and premeditated"
On Monday, the chair of the MPTS hearing, Alison Storey, described Dr Ahmad's behaviour as "predatory and premeditated", saying it had left his colleague upset and altering her work patterns to avoid him. The tribunal noted that Ms A later sought to avoid night shifts and to avoid working at quieter times on the ward in order to reduce the risk of encountering him.
Regulatory action and whereabouts
The hearing, which began earlier this month and concluded on Tuesday, resulted in Dr Ahmad being erased from the medical register. Police told the tribunal he was believed to be in Pakistan, having left the UK about five years ago. The MPTS conducted the hearing in his absence.
The tribunal judged that the conduct in question demonstrated a serious departure from the standards expected of a doctor and was inconsistent with continued registration. The panel considered the impact on the victim and the risk of repetition when deciding on erasure.
Consequences for the victim and wider implications
The tribunal record emphasised the personal and professional consequences for Ms A, who altered her rota and work choices to avoid potential further contact. The MPTS decision underlines the duty of medical professionals to maintain safe working environments and to report matters such as arrests that could affect fitness to practise.
This case highlights several issues for NHS employers and regulators: the protection of junior staff, the importance of reporting arrests or allegations to employers, and the role of tribunals in upholding professional standards when practitioners are not present to defend themselves.
- Subject: Dr Jawad Ahmad removed from the medical register.
- Allegations: Sexual harassment of a junior colleague; failure to disclose an arrest in June 2020.
- Outcome: Erasure by the MPTS after hearing held in absentia; doctor believed to be in Pakistan.
| Detail | Finding |
|---|---|
| Incident date | 11 June 2020 (office incident) |
| Tribunal description | "Predatory and premeditated" |
| Doctor's location | Believed to be in Pakistan |
The MPTS decision will now be recorded on the medical register and is likely to be referenced in any future fitness-to-practise proceedings should new information or proceedings arise. For employers, the case serves as a reminder to ensure robust safeguarding and reporting mechanisms are in place, and for staff it underscores the potential career-ending consequences of breaching professional boundaries.
As the healthcare sector continues to confront concerns about workplace culture and the safety of trainees and junior staff, regulatory bodies say they will take firm action where practitioners’ behaviour falls short of the standards required to protect patients and colleagues.
