Tower Hamlets GP Suspended for Sexual Misconduct

A General Practitioner (GP) from the Isle of Dogs has been handed a 10-month suspension after an independent medical tribunal determined he engaged in sexual misconduct with a female patient during a routine examination. Dr. Manish Tripathi, who worked at Barkantine Practice in Tower Hamlets, will be unable to practice medicine while his case is under review. The suspension period is subject to a review hearing, which will assess his level of insight into his actions.

The case came to light following a formal complaint filed by the patient, referred to as Patient A, on September 7, 2023. She detailed a deeply unsettling consultation with Dr. Tripathi, where she felt his actions were "aggressive" and made her feel uncomfortable from the moment she entered the consultation room.

According to Patient A’s testimony, the consultation room door was locked, the lights were dimmed, and Dr. Tripathi proceeded with the examination without first obtaining her explicit consent. The incident, which unfolded during a chest and thyroid examination, escalated when Dr. Tripathi allegedly lifted her top and pulled down her bra, exposing her breast and nipple, using a stethoscope to rub the area. This was done without explanation or consent. Patient A also claimed that during a subsequent abdominal check, the doctor came uncomfortably close to her pubic bone.

"Dr. Manish Tripathi did not look satisfied and wanted to lift my top from the bottom and I had to stop him as I did not like him undressing me," Patient A stated in her account to the tribunal. She described her horror as he moved the stethoscope over her breast and nipples, pulling down her bra. "Even a child knows that the heart is on the left and not on the right. I felt very insecure and exposed." She emphasized that the entire ordeal was carried out without her consent or a proper explanation.

Read also: Tower Hamlets GP Joins NHS England Board to Champion 'Neighbourhood Health'

In his defense, Dr. Tripathi denied the allegations, submitting a statement that contradicted Patient A's account. He claimed the examination was a "routine chest examination" performed with the stethoscope over the patient's clothes. "This involved no exposure of breasts or nipples at any point, nor did it involve any percussion or palpation by hands," his statement read.

The tribunal considered evidence from an expert witness and heard submissions from Dr. Tripathi’s representative, Renald Davidson, who questioned the "inconsistencies and implausibilities" in Patient A’s testimony and pointed to a two-week delay in her filing the complaint. However, the tribunal found the delay to be understandable, as Patient A explained she was in shock and needed time to process the incident before deciding to file a formal complaint. She had also sought to speak with another doctor about the incident, which contributed to the delay.

Ultimately, the tribunal concluded that Dr. Tripathi's conduct was "unwanted and must have been of a sexual nature." The panel found that the doctor had "subjected Patient A to unwanted behaviour that made her feel that her dignity was violated, she felt degraded, and it created an offensive and intimidating environment."

The 10-month suspension is a significant consequence for Dr. Tripathi, but his future as a medical professional remains uncertain. He will be required to attend a review hearing to assess his level of insight into his misconduct. The tribunal warned that if he continues to show a lack of insight, it could lead to more severe sanctions, including being permanently struck off the medical register.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of patient consent and professional boundaries in the medical field. It underscores the power imbalance that can exist between a doctor and a patient and the severe consequences for medical professionals who violate that trust. The outcome of the review hearing will determine whether Dr. Tripathi can ever return to the medical profession or if his career will be permanently ended by this serious breach of conduct. 

The Isle of Dogs, and the wider borough of Tower Hamlets, is home to a large and vibrant British Bangladeshi and British Muslim community. This community, which has deep historical roots in the area, forms the single largest ethnic group in the borough and has profoundly shaped its social and cultural landscape. The close-knit nature of this population means that news and community matters are often discussed and shared within these networks, making a clear and sensitive presentation of a case like this vital for public awareness and trust.

Source-Evening standard