Surgeon back at work after GMC suspension for 'inappropriate' patient advances

A SURGEON who pursued his 21-year-old patient with unwanted advances can return to work after serving a six-month suspension.

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (GHNSHFT) orthopaedic surgeon Htin Aung put his arms around her shoulders and wanted a personal relationship with her, a Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service panel found.

He also admitted inviting her out for a dinner for two and a tennis match, asking her personal questions, making an unnecessary home visit and taking her out for coffee. He denied pursuing a personal relationship with her and placing his arms around her shoulders.

But a fitness to practise panel found that he had, and suspended him from practising for six months. On Thursday, October 25 he was allowed to return to work.

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All the allegations were deemed "inappropriate" and all bar the tennis invite were an "abuse of professional position".

Mr Aung, who has worked at Gloucestershire Royal and Cheltenham General hospitals, plus others in the county since 2004, performed a knee arthroscopy on March 31 2010 at Tewkesbury Hospital, then offered to take her home to Moreton-in-Marsh.

Then on April 6, 2010 he made a 46-mile round trip to examine her knee at her home, and suggested going for a coffee to discuss treatment.

He drove her 10 miles to a coffee shop, which is where he asked personal questions, and asked her out for dinner and to play tennis. She complained she had been hugged by him when he took her back home.

The hearing was in November and December last year, and the suspension handed down on March 23. He could return to work on October 25.

Dr Sean Elyan, GHNSHFT medical director, said: "Mr Aung is extremely sorry for the distress caused and it is clear that his actions will not be repeated.

"This has been acknowledged by the GMC which has recently reviewed his case and has confirmed that he is fit to return to unrestricted practice."