A consultant anaesthetist has admitted engaging in sexual activity with a nurse in an operating theatre whilst his patient lay under anaesthetic in another room, a medical tribunal has heard.
Dr Suhail Anjum, 44, and the unnamed nurse were caught in a “compromising position” by a shocked colleague who walked into the theatre at Tameside Hospital in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester. The incident occurred on September 16, 2013, whilst Dr Anjum was meant to be monitoring a male patient during surgery.
The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) hearing in Manchester was told that Dr Anjum had asked another nursing colleague to monitor the patient halfway through the procedure whilst he took what he claimed would be a comfort break. Instead, he went to another operating theatre where the sexual encounter took place.
Colleague’s Shocking Discovery
Andrew Molloy, representing the General Medical Council (GMC), told the tribunal that Dr Anjum was the anaesthetist for five cases in theatre five that day and left the room during the third procedure.
“Shortly after, a Nurse NT entered theatre eight and encountered Dr Anjum and Nurse C in a compromising position,” Mr Molloy said. “She described seeing Nurse C with her trousers around her knee area with her underwear on display and Dr Anjum was in the process of tying up the cord of his trousers.”
The witness, identified as Nurse NT, was “shocked” by what she saw and quickly walked through the theatre to the exit doors, the tribunal heard. Dr Anjum was absent from his patient’s theatre for approximately eight minutes before returning to complete the procedure.
Patient Safety Concerns
Whilst Mr Molloy confirmed that “no harm came to the patient when Dr Anjum was absent from the theatre and the procedure went on without further incident,” the doctor has admitted his actions had the potential to put his patient at risk.
The incident was immediately reported by Nurse NT to her line manager, triggering an investigation that has ultimately led to the current tribunal proceedings more than a decade later.
Dr Anjum has not disputed the facts of the case, admitting to engaging in sexual activity with Nurse C and acknowledging that he knew she was “likely to be nearby” when he left his patient. The admission raises serious questions about professional standards and patient safety protocols in operating theatres.
Doctor’s Apology and Explanation
Now living in Pakistan after leaving Tameside Hospital in February 2024, Dr Anjum appeared before the tribunal expressing deep remorse for what he called a “one-off error of judgment.” He told the panel he wishes to resume his career in the UK and promised there would never be a repeat of the incident.
“It was quite shameful, to say the least. I only have myself to blame,” Dr Anjum testified. “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.”
The anaesthetist acknowledged it was “unfair” to ask the anaesthetic nurse to cover for him and that he had put Nurse NT in an “awkward position” by forcing her to witness and report the incident.
“But, most importantly the patient,” he continued. “If my doctor had gone away without telling me… this breaks me to pieces every day when I think about it. I have always set very high standards for myself because the job is my passion. I don’t know how and why it happened but I wish I could reverse it.”
Personal Circumstances Cited
Dr Anjum told the tribunal the incident occurred during what he described as a “stressful time” for his family. His youngest child had been born prematurely in January 2013 with “very, very low birth weight,” and his wife had experienced a traumatic delivery.
“We failed to connect as a couple during that time,” he explained. It took a toll on my personal life, my mental health and wellbeing, and my work at the hospital.
However, the GMC is likely to argue that personal difficulties cannot excuse such a serious breach of professional standards, particularly one that potentially endangered a patient under anaesthetic.
Professional Standards at Stake
The case highlights critical issues around professional boundaries and patient safety in healthcare settings. Anaesthetists hold a position of unique responsibility during surgery, continuously monitoring patients’ vital signs and ensuring their safety whilst they are in an extremely vulnerable state under general anaesthetic.
Leaving a sedated patient, even with another qualified professional present, represents a significant departure from expected standards of care. The fact that the absence was for personal sexual activity rather than a genuine medical emergency or comfort break compounds the severity of the breach.
Tribunal Continues
The hearing in Manchester continues on Friday when the panel will hear further submissions on whether Dr Anjum’s fitness to practise is impaired because of misconduct. The tribunal must decide whether his actions constitute such a serious breach of professional standards that restrictions should be placed on his medical registration, or whether he should be struck off the medical register entirely.
The GMC has the power to impose various sanctions ranging from a warning or conditions on practice to suspension or erasure from the medical register. In making their decision, the panel will consider factors including the risk to patient safety, the damage to public confidence in the medical profession, and whether Dr Anjum has shown genuine insight into his misconduct.
Dr Anjum’s expressed desire to return to practise in the UK will depend entirely on the tribunal’s findings and any sanctions they choose to impose. The case serves as a stark reminder of the high professional standards expected of medical practitioners and the serious consequences of breaching the trust placed in them by patients and colleagues alike.
The tribunal’s decision is expected to be delivered following the conclusion of hearings.
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Image Credit:
Tameside Hospital — photo by Gwennie, CC BY-SA 2.0
