A heart surgeon jailed for sexually assaulting five junior female colleagues and creating a “toxic and sexualised culture” at a Blackpool hospital has been struck off the medical register. Dr Amal Bose worked at the Lancashire Cardiothoracic Centre in Blackpool when he subjected female colleagues to sexual assaults and degrading comments over a five-year period between 2017 and 2022. Bose was convicted of 12 counts of sexual assault at Preston Crown Court on June 19 last year and was subsequently jailed for six years. He was also placed on the sex offenders’ register. The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) has now ordered that Bose be erased from the medical register after concluding his convictions were “fundamentally incompatible” with remaining a registered doctor. The decision followed an MPTS hearing on July 31.
Surgeon described women as ‘fresh meat’ and ‘shaggable’
The criminal case heard that Bose regularly made degrading and sexualised comments about female colleagues. One woman was referred to as “fresh meat”, while other colleagues were described as “shaggable” in a WhatsApp group. Bose also sexually assaulted women by touching areas including their breasts, groin and waists, claiming some of the contact had been accidental. His behaviour had a devastating impact on his victims. One woman began self-harming as a result of the trauma she experienced, while another developed anxiety. Several of the women were forced to take time away from work and one eventually left her role altogether.
Judge: ‘Sexual predator hiding in plain sight’
Sentencing Bose, Judge Ian Unsworth KC described his offending as “sexually charged, targeted and predatory”. He told him: “On the evidence before me I am satisfied so that I am sure that you used your exalted position to facilitate your sexual offending. “To the outside you were a highly skilled and sometimes popular cardiac surgeon. “The reality is that you were a sexual predator hiding in plain sight.” Despite evidence before the medical tribunal that Bose had previously been regarded as a man of good character and a “good cardiac surgeon”, the MPTS concluded the seriousness of his criminal offending meant he could no longer remain registered. The tribunal said: “The tribunal determined that the conviction fell towards the higher end of the spectrum of seriousness.” It acknowledged evidence that Bose had worked in a difficult and pressurised environment where some colleagues regarded workplace banter as a form of stress relief. However, the tribunal made clear that this could not excuse his behaviour towards female colleagues. It said the working environment should not have affected the way he “physically treated and spoke about colleagues”. The tribunal added: “The tribunal noted that Dr Bose had found it difficult to explain why he acted as he did save for describing his behaviour as ‘banter’.” It ultimately concluded that Bose posed an ongoing risk to the public and ordered his removal from the medical register.
CPS: Position at hospital did not protect him from prosecution
Following the conclusion of the criminal proceedings, Sacha Coyne, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West’s Rape and Serious Sexual Offence Unit, said Bose had abused a position of trust. She said: “Amal Bose was in a trusted position at the hospital. “He appeared not to recognise the serious and lasting impact his actions would have, describing his behaviour at trial as ‘workplace banter’. “This case should send a clear message to perpetrators of sexual abuse, the Crown Prosecution Service will not hesitate to prosecute abusers, regardless of the position that the abuser holds in society.” Bose’s removal from the medical register means he can no longer practise as a registered doctor in the UK.
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Heart surgeon who was ‘sexual predator hiding in plain sight’ struck off
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Heart surgeon Dr Amal Bose has been struck off after being jailed for sexually assaulting five junior female colleagues at a Blackpool hospital.
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Originally published by UKNIP.
