Doctor Licked Beer Off Colleague, Tribunal Hears

A expert accused of pouring brew down a younger colleague's cleavage earlier licking it disconnected and rubbing her breasts has been suspended for a year.

Dr Mark Johnson, who was moving astatine West Suffolk Hospital astatine nan clip of nan incident, besides allegedly sent "derogatory and sexually demeaning" messages to different inferior colleague.

Some of these messages included comments astir nan size of his colleague's breasts, activity positions and oral sex, a tribunal was told.

The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPT) said immoderate of Dr Johnson's actions constituted intersexual harassment and suspended him from practising for 12 months.

During nan proceeding nan General Medical Council (GMC) typical based on Dr Johnson should beryllium banned indefinitely from nan profession.

The MPT panel, however, concluded his "conduct was not persistent nor was it a shape of predatory behaviour" and that he was "capable of remediation".

Dr Johnson joined West Suffolk Hospital arsenic a advisor successful 2013, earlier leaving 10 years later pursuing disciplinary proceedings.

The sheet heard he sent intersexual and inappropriate messages to a inferior workfellow astir different colleagues betwixt November 2018 and November 2019.

During a activity Christmas statement successful December 2022, Dr Johnson moved his manus up and down a colleague's back, blew fume from a vape successful her look and kissed her.

Then he was said to person tipped immoderate of his portion onto nan inferior colleague's cleavage earlier licking it from her skin.

The GMC suggested this was "a sedate violation" of her "dignity", while nan MPT said his actions were "sexually motivated and constituted intersexual harassment".

The MPT ruled nan behaviour of Dr Johnson, who is now employed astatine nan Royal Sussex County Hospital, was "inherently serious, deliberate, and sexually motivated".

While it concluded his fittingness to practise was impaired, it said he had "developed meaningful insight" and "embedded sustainable behavioural change".

Dr Richard Goodwin, nan aesculapian head astatine West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We referred Dr Johnson to nan GMC pursuing an soul process, prompted by reports of imaginable intersexual misconduct.

"We're committed to eradicating intersexual harassment and maltreatment successful nan workplace by promoting a civilization that fosters openness and transparency, and ne'er tolerates unwanted, harmful aliases inappropriate intersexual behaviours."

The Royal Sussex County Hospital has been contacted for comment.