Sex doctor finally struck off register

3:00pm Monday 1st December 2008

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A DOCTOR who sexually molested his patients over a 17-year period has finally been struck off.

The General Medical Council has removed Dr Harish Doshi from the medical register following an inquiry which has taken four years to complete.

The 60-year-old Leigh GP was suspended from practising by the primary care trust in 2004 following complaints he had touched patients inappropriately.

A council hearing in November 2007 ruled the GP had sexually molested patients over 17 years at surgeries in the Fairway and Eastwood Road, north, Leigh.

One was a woman he had given a contraceptive jab to and another was a 64-year-old pensioner.

On Friday, the council dismissed a request from his lawyer, Linda Strudwick, for a temporary suspension from the medical register.

In his report, chairman of the council panel, Ian Neale, said: “The panel is clear that harm has been done to patients.

“Dr Doshi abused the trust of his patients.

“Dr Doshi crossed boundaries and touched patients in ways which they perceived as being sexual.

“Dr Doshi’s misconduct was sexual and wholly unacceptable. Therefore, the panel has concluded overall that Dr Doshi’s conduct is fundamentally incompatible with continuing to be a doctor.”

The panel said it had taken into account more than 150 pages of “consistent and powerful testimonials” in Dr Doshi’s favour from colleagues and patients.

A formal complaint was first made to the health trust in October 2003, but Doshi was not suspended until the following year, when a second woman came forward and an inquiry was launched.

Speaking after the hearing, Dr Doshi, a retired father-of-two, of Woodside, Leigh, said he maintained his innocence.

He accused the system of “doctor-bashing” and said: “This is all hearsay with no evidence at all.

“I have always helped my patients.

“The council should be abolished in the best interests of the medical profession.

“I am very sad and will take legal advice on whether to appeal.

“I would like to thank my wife and family and all the many patients who stood by me.”