A DOCTOR’s future is hanging in the balance after a tribunal of top medical experts found he had sexually molested three patients.

The General Medical Council has ruled Dr Harish Doshi’s conduct was “improper, sexual and an abuse” of his professional position. The London tribunal ruled his fitness to practise was impaired.

Yesterday at a separate meeting in Leigh, the area’s primary care trust confirmed Dr Doshi’s Fairway Medical Centre will close by December following a row over the lease.

Dr Doshi’s hearing in London, which began in November last year, heard he embraced and cuddled his victims and tried to kiss and stroke them, during 18 years of sexual misconduct at surgeries in the Fairway and Eastwood Road North, Leigh.

He was also accused of examining a heavily-pregnant 16-year-old girl’s breasts in 1998 without clinical reason. But the hearing ruled while Doshi was morally wrong in his treatment of the teenager, it was not proven his motivation was sexual.

The 36-year-old victim reported Doshi after she gave birth to her second child and realised she did not need a breast examination at all.

One patient, a pensioner, told the hearing she had felt like a hostage as Doshi rubbed himself against her and tried to kiss her after she consulted him for depression.

Another who gave evidence said she took six months off work following a nervous breakdown in 1999, but was forced to go to the surgery every fornight because the doctor refused to issue her with a sick note.

Doshi moved his chair towards her, clasped her hands and tried to hug her.

He became more intimate over time and eventually kissed her lips.

Ian Neale, panel chairman, told Doshi it was his responsibility to ensure his manner when treating patients was unambiguous.

He added: “This was a pattern of behaviour which continued over a number of years. You acted in a sexual way towards five female patients. You abused your position as a general practitioner on the pretext you were trying to console patients, most of whom were vulnerable when they consulted you.”

The panel said it did not accept Doshi’s explanation he was only trying to be supportive and offer consolation to his patients.

In conclusion the panel said: “Five patients suffered your actions repeatedly. In three of those patients, your repeated behaviour was sexual and in one patient, it became increasingly intimate.”