Doctor warned over picture of naked burns victim

Dr Pratik Khagram was a registrar at Colchester Hospital when he sent the pictures to two men

A doctor who shared pictures of a naked burns victim has been given a formal warning about his conduct.

Dr Pratik Khagram also texted two men an X-ray image of a patient who had an object in their rectum and of another person's death certificate.

The incidents took place at Colchester Hospital between August 2021 and November 2023, a tribunal found.

Admitting 10 instances of misconduct, Dr Khagram told the panel he was trying to prove how dedicated he was as a registrar.

He had been working in the hospital's emergency department at the time, but has since left his post.

The pictures were sent to two men who had no involvement with the hospital, the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service said in a report.

They detailed "significant injuries" - as they were described in the report - suffered by an elderly patient who had suffered serious burns to their lower back and right arm in October 2022.

The panel found Dr Khagram's conduct was a "serious departure" from the expected standards

Dr Khagram also shared images containing confidential documentation, including a patient's postcode and a death certificate.

He was investigated by the hospital after one of the men, named only as Mr A, relayed concerns to its chief executive.

'Desire to impress'

The panel's report concluded that Dr Khagram's actions were driven by "a need for self-validation and a desire to demonstrate the complexity of his work".

"Dr Khagram explained that images of paperwork were sent to prove his whereabouts and demonstrate he was working," said the panel, which was chaired by barrister Emma Boothroyd

Counsel representing the doctor said he went through "significant personal reflection and professional growth" since the incidents.

The panel concluded Dr Khagram was "driven by a desire to impress" but his conduct was a "serious departure" from the expected standards.

It found he had taken steps to remedy his behaviour and issued him with a formal warning

The East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust said Dr Khagram had left the hospital and declined to comment further.