Doctor on the run after caught sexually molesting female patients

At least 25 clips record the man harassing women, some of whom tried to resist his assault

MANSEHRA: A criminal case was registered against a medical officer on Saturday after he was caught sexually harassing female patients on camera in his office at King Abdullah Teaching Hospital.

Police quoted Sohail, a resident of Mansehra city, as saying over 25 video clips were leaked which caught the hospital’s medical officer, Dr Shoaib, in the act of sexually abusing patients. The camera had not been placed by the hospital administration; those familiar with the incident think the device was hidden in his exam room after someone suspected the doctor of foul play.

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According to the police and the complainant, Sohail, the clips caught Shoaib sexually harassing women after taking them for examination to a side room in his office in the out patients department. Sohail also works for a local newspaper and was the first recipient of the video clips.

On record

The complainant attached the clips with his complaint and later shared them with the media. In the clips Shoaib is seen examining patients, some of them teenage girls. He is seen molesting them and some of the videos show victims trying to resist the doctor.

Some of the girls and women are also seeing rushing out of the room in tears.

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Sohail was quoted as saying that since the doctor’s is a sacred profession, the accused has violated the mores and rules of Pakistan Medical and Dental Council. The journalist called for the doctor to be taken to task.

The city police launched a criminal case against Shoaib under sections 354, 355 and 511. All of the sections talk about punishing those who intend to dishonour a person or violate a woman’s modesty. However, the accused is at large, provoking locals to protest.

Outrage

District councillor Colonel (retd) Ilyas, tehsil naib nazim Mohsin Waqar and tehsil councillor Omar Farooq protested Friday evening on Karakoram Highway. The protesters burnt tyres and kept the traffic suspended for over an hour.

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Another protest demanding Shoaib’s arrest was held outside the press club.

When approached for comments, Deputy Medical Superintendent Dr Bashir confirmed a case has been registered against Shoaib, and he and Medical Superintendent Dr Naeem have been suspended by Minister for Health Shahram Tarakai. Bashir added an enquiry has been ordered against the accused and it would be sent to the health director and secretary for action.

He said as a preventive measure he has ordered the removal of curtains from all offices of doctors in the hospital. Bashir said it has been made mandatory that all female patients who visit a male doctor have an attendant present in the room till the examination comes to an end. In case a woman is without an attendant, the ward orderly in the OPD will stay till the check-up is completed.

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Bashir made it clear doctors not following the new guidelines would be taken to task. In response to a question, Bashir said the accused doctor is in his 50s and a native of Mansehra city.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 18^th, 2015.