Doctor Caught Having S3x During Surgery Allowed To Keep Practicing

A doctor who abandoned a patient during surgery to engage in sexual activity with a nurse has been permitted to continue his medical practice.

Dr Suhail Anjum, aged 44, and an unnamed nurse were caught in a “compromising position” by a colleague at Tameside Hospital in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, in September 2023.

Dr Anjum, a consultant anaesthetist, had stepped away from his patient under general anaesthetic, claiming a “bathroom break,” but instead engaged in sexual activity in another operating theatre. He had instructed another nurse to oversee the patient during his absence.

At the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) hearing, it was disclosed that a staff member discovered the nurse “with her trousers around her knee area with her underwear on display” while Dr Anjum was “tying up the cord of his trousers.”

The patient was unharmed, but Dr Anjum was sacked in February 2024 after an internal investigation. During the tribunal, he admitted his conduct was “quite shameful” and stated: “I only have myself to blame. I let down everybody, not just my patient and myself but the trust and how it would look. I let down my colleagues who gave me a lot of respect.”

He further acknowledged that he was aware the nurse was “likely to be nearby” when he left his patient and that his actions could have endangered the patient. Nevertheless, Dr Anjum expressed his desire to return to his medical career in the UK after moving his family to Pakistan.

Tribunal chairwoman Rebecca Miller stated that his actions were “significant enough to amount to misconduct that was serious” but noted that the doctor’s likelihood of repeating the misconduct was “very low.” She added: “The tribunal considered that members of the public and the profession would understand the high level of scrutiny to which Dr Anjum had been subjected, and that a finding of serious misconduct would weigh heavily upon him. This public finding is sufficient to maintain public confidence in the profession and proper professional standards.”

Dr Anjum faced no sanctions from the tribunal, which is expected to reconvene to determine whether to issue a warning on his registration.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli