Dr Jawad Ahmad, a former urology registrar at Royal Stoke University Hospital, has been erased from the medical register after a disciplinary tribunal found he sexually harassed a junior colleague in 2020. The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) concluded its hearing on Tuesday, ruling in Ahmad's absence that his conduct was "fundamentally incompatible" with continued registration as a doctor. Police believe Ahmad left the United Kingdom for Pakistan roughly five years ago and has not returned.
The tribunal heard that Ahmad's behaviour towards a colleague identified only as Ms A included repeated attempts to visit her home under the pretext of collecting books. According to a more detailed account from a national broadcaster's report, he also invited her to dinner as part of a pattern of unwanted attention.
What did Ahmad do to his colleague?
On 11 June 2020, Ahmad is said to have lured Ms A into an office before pushing her down into a chair, massaging her back and shoulders, and kissing her. MPTS chair Alison Storey told the hearing on Monday that his conduct was "predatory and premeditated" and had left Ms A "upset". Storey added that Ms A subsequently began avoiding night shifts and quieter periods at the hospital in an effort to stay away from Ahmad, believing herself more vulnerable at those times.
Why was he also found dishonest?
Separately from the harassment findings, Ahmad was found to have signed a contract extension with University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust on 22 June 2020 without disclosing that he had been arrested two days earlier on suspicion of sexually assaulting a teenage girl in Stoke-on-Trent. The General Medical Council (GMC) said Ahmad was obliged to declare the arrest but chose not to because he wanted the new contract to go through. The GMC's updated account, reported by a national broadcaster, described this concealment as deceitful, noting he had a clear duty to disclose the arrest when pursuing the new contract. The MPTS panel concluded that members of the public would be outraged if Ahmad were allowed to remain on the register given both the misconduct and the dishonesty involved. His erasure means he cannot practise as a doctor in the UK or in any jurisdiction requiring GMC registration.
How has the hospital trust responded?
Dr Diane Adamson, chief medical officer at University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, which runs Royal Stoke, said the trust operates a zero-tolerance approach to sexual violence and abuse. Responding after Tuesday's ruling, she said:
"We actively encourage anyone affected to come forward. Every concern will be taken seriously, investigated thoroughly and met with appropriate support."
She added that the trust would always act on its findings, including referring matters to police where necessary:
"We will always act on what we find - including referral to the police where necessary - and we will hold those responsible to account."
Adamson said the trust had taken concrete steps to embed a culture of safety, respect and accountability across the organisation. She detailed some of these measures, saying:
"We have appointed a dedicated sexual safety liaison officer, introduced mandatory training for staff and leaders and established clearer, more accessible routes for reporting concerns."
She concluded by reaffirming the trust's ongoing commitment:
"This work continues and we remain committed to ensuring every member of our workforce feels safe, respected and heard."
Is this part of a wider pattern in medical misconduct cases?
Ahmad's case follows other recent disciplinary actions against doctors in the UK. In a separate matter reported earlier this year, a neurosurgeon was suspended for eight months after engaging in a sexual relationship with a patient and prescribing opioids without proper documentation, amid separate allegations of blackmail and professional misconduct. While unrelated to Ahmad's case directly, it reflects continued scrutiny of professional boundaries and conduct standards within the medical profession.
What are the practical consequences of the ruling?
With his name erased from the register, Ahmad is barred from working as a doctor anywhere that requires GMC registration, including the UK. The tribunal found this step necessary both to protect the public and to preserve the reputation of the medical profession. No further hearings or appeals were mentioned in connection with the case at the time of the ruling.
Key Facts
- Dr Jawad Ahmad was struck off the medical register on 24 (Tuesday), following an MPTS hearing held in his absence.
- He sexually harassed a junior colleague, Ms A, at Royal Stoke University Hospital in 2020, including an incident on 11 June 2020.
- Ahmad failed to disclose his arrest on suspicion of sexually assaulting a teenage girl before signing a contract extension on 22 June 2020.
- Police believe he left the UK for Pakistan around five years ago and has not returned.
- University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust says it has introduced mandatory training and a dedicated sexual safety liaison officer since the case came to light.
