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A locum consultant cardiologist, Dr Velmurugan Kuppuswamy, has been removed from the medical register following findings of sexual harassment against two junior female colleagues while he was employed at Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire. During his tenure, Dr Kuppuswamy engaged in inappropriate behaviour, including calling one colleague a “bad girl,” squeezing her waist, and sending flirtatious messages. These actions were deemed sexually motivated by a Medical Practitioners tribunal that also highlighted the creation of a hostile and humiliating environment for the victims.
The incidents occurred between August and October 2021, culminating during a hospital staff party in September at the hospital’s communal staff accommodation. On this occasion, Dr Kuppuswamy hugged one colleague tightly, touched her back, and squeezed her waist despite her discomfort. He also grabbed her wrist, pulled her closer, and made unwelcome comments while smirking. The colleague described her feelings as exposed and wrong, detailing attempts to pull away and protests that she was being hurt. Although a police inquiry was conducted, no criminal charges resulted from the investigation.
Additional misconduct took place during the same event involving another female colleague, where Dr Kuppuswamy made suggestive remarks, encouraged “sexy dancing,” and placed his hand on her thigh, squeezing near her groin. The tribunal heard witness accounts describing how he followed groups of female workers as they moved around the party and stared while they danced. He also made inappropriate suggestions during a game of ping pong, telling the women to use their chests as paddles. Testimonies revealed a pattern of physical contact around the waist when greeting female staff, behavior that repeatedly caused discomfort.
Throughout the tribunal process, Dr Kuppuswamy denied the allegations, attributing them to a response against his whistleblowing related to another doctor. He claimed the female colleagues were fabricating claims and questioned their credibility. However, the panel rejected these defences and confirmed a clear power imbalance given his position as a consultant. The tribunal concluded that his conduct was a serious breach of professional boundaries, describing it as sexually motivated misconduct that fell far below the standards expected of medical practitioners. Dr Kuppuswamy was struck off the medical register but may apply for restoration after five years. The health board involved reaffirmed its commitment to providing a safe environment for staff and patients, emphasizing policies designed to protect wellbeing and uphold best practices
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
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