Peterborough gynecologist who made ‘one-night stand’ comment removed

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

Usama Abuzoda was working as an obstetrics and gynecology consultant at Peterborough City Hospital when the misconduct offenses occurred.

A court heard he once phoned his victim, who was also a young colleague, out of hours and told her: ‘If I wanted to have a one-night stand I would have with someone like you.”

She left her job because she no longer felt safe at work and said she was “completely traumatized by the whole situation.”

The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) has heard how Mr Abuzoda became the victim’s gynecology consultant in 2020 after she requested a referral from her GP.

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

In January 2021, when she returned home sick from work, Mr Abuzoda telephoned her twice, claiming to check on her well-being.

During both calls, he allegedly told her she was “really beautiful” and asked if “she wanted some excitement.”

The victim said he was panicked because “he knew where I lived.”

Later that year, after a “night out at work”, Mr Abuzoda allegedly followed his victim home in his car.

She claimed he “kept indicating and turning on his hazard lights,” leaving her “scared and worried.”

He then sent her a message asking to meet.

The court ruled Mr. Abuzoda’s actions were sexually motivated.

A week later, Mr Abuzoda was warned by a senior manager about her behavior, but was not told not to contact her.

Four months later, he allegedly followed his victim to a staff car park where he shouted and waved at her.

In an impact statement, the victim, referred to in court as Miss A, said: “As a gynecologist, I should have felt safe and respected by Mr Abuzoda, but I did not. is not the case.

“This has had a lasting effect on my trust in male health professionals, which, given my long-standing incurable health problems, has a huge effect and impact on the management of my problems and on my health mental and physical.”

Mr Abuzoda left Peterborough City Hospital in November 2023 and later worked at Tameside General Hospital, near Manchester.

The court said his removal from the medical register was “the only sanction sufficient to 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 behavior that is unworthy and incompatible with it.” from a licensed physician.

He added: (Miss A) required intimate surgery by a doctor who, unsolicited, had clearly demonstrated his sexual interest in her.

“The fact that a vulnerable young woman and patient was placed in this position by Dr Abuzoda is something his professional colleagues would find deplorable.”