Gynaecologist sexually harasses patient after op

Usama Abuzoda worked at Peterborough City Hospital

A senior doctor who sexually harassed a patient, causing her to have a panic attack, has been struck off.

Usama Abuzoda worked as a consultant in obstetrics and gynaecology at Peterborough City Hospital when the misconduct offences occurred.

A tribunal heard how on one occasion he phoned his victim, who was also a junior colleague, out of hours and said: "If I wanted to have a one-night stand, I'd have it with someone like you".

She quit her job as she no longer felt safe at work and said she was "completely traumatised by the whole situation".

The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) was told how Mr Abuzoda became the victim's gynaecology consultant in 2020 after she requested a referral by her GP.

She had previously undergone surgery and wanted a second opinion after her symptoms worsened.

In January 2021, after she went home ill from work, Mr Abuzoda phoned her twice, claiming to check on her welfare.

During the two calls, he allegedly told her she was "really beautiful" and asked whether "she wanted some excitement".

The victim said she felt panicked because "he knew where I lived".

Later that year following a "work night out", Mr Abuzoda allegedly followed his victim home in his car.

She claimed he "kept indicating and putting his hazard lights" on leaving her "scared and worried".

He then sent her a message requesting they met up.

The tribunal ruled Mr Abuzoda's actions were sexually motivated.

'I should have felt safe'

A week later, Mr Abuzoda was cautioned by a senior manager about his behaviour but was not told not to contact her.

Four months later it was claimed he followed his victim to a staff car park where he shouted and waved at her.

In an impact statement, the victim, referred to in the tribunal as Miss A, said: "As my gynaecologist I should have felt safe and respected by Mr Abuzoda but I did not.

"This has had a long-lasting effect on my trust in male medical professionals, which given my long term incurable medical conditions has a huge effect and impact on management of my conditions and my mental and physical health."

Mr Abuzoda left Peterborough City Hospital in November 2023 and went on to work at Tameside General Hospital near Manchester.

The tribunal said removing him from the medical register was the "only sufficient sanction which would protect patients, maintain public confidence in the profession and send a clear message to Dr Abuzoda, the profession and the public that his misconduct constituted behaviour unbefitting and incompatible with that of a registered doctor".

It added: [Miss A] required an intimate surgical intervention by a doctor who, unsolicited, had clearly demonstrated his sexual interest in her.

"For a young vulnerable woman and patient to have been placed in this position by Dr Abuzoda is something that fellow professionals would find deplorable."