Warning: This story contains graphic details. 

A doctor at a GP surgery in Buckinghamshire has been suspended from practicing as a doctor by the medical watchdog following his misconduct hearing.

Between September 26 and October 11 2022, Dr Pavan Bhargava, a former GP partner at Carrington House Surgery in High Wycombe, was called to a misconduct hearing by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal, a statutory body running hearings to determine whether a doctor is fit to practice medicine.

The hearing was called after an allegation that Dr Bhargava digitally penetrated a patient “without consent and when it was not clinically indicated” during a coil fitting in 2019, the tribunal record stated. 

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The public tribunal record said: “It was alleged that he failed to apologise or record the incident in Patient A’s medical records, and that his actions were sexually motivated.”

The alleged misconduct happened on April 3, 2019, while Dr Bhargava was a GP at Bourne End Medical Centre - a surgery formed of Pound House Surgery and Hawthornden Surgery after a 2018 merger.

At Bourne End, he was the contraception lead with specific responsibility for fitting contraceptive coils.

Authorities were first alerted to the concerns regarding Patient A’s incident, when a former GP partner at Bourne End, Dr D, raised it with the General Medical Council (GMC), a public body responsible for maintaining the official register of UK doctors.

Police were informed, but the case was closed with no further action following an investigation, the tribunal heard.

A further allegation claimed that during a consultation for Patient B’s child on May 4 2017, Dr Bhargava “inappropriately started a discussion about Patient B’s menstrual cycle and contraception, without consent, when it was not clinically indicated, and in front of her children.”

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After analysing documentary evidence, including Patient A’s medical record and police logs, and oral evidence from witnesses, experts and Dr Bhargava, the Tribunal found the allegation of digital penetration was “determined and proved”.

“The Tribunal did not think that Patient A was mistaken or that she had fabricated her account. The Tribunal found it unlikely that Patient A would have questioned her own anatomy if the extent of Dr Bhargava’s action was a mere brushing [of an intimate area].

“It preferred Patient A’s evidence and did not accept Dr Bhargava’s explanation that this was a mere accidental ‘brushing’ of the [intimate area],” the record said.

Due to the lack of clinical justification and the Tribunal ruling out the possibility of a mistake or accident, Dr Bhargava’s actions “must have been for sexual gratification and hence his action was sexually motivated. There is no other alternative plausible motivation.” 

With regards to Patient B’s allegation, the Tribunal heard how during a consultation on Patient B’s son’s eczema Dr Bhargava asked her how her periods were “out of the blue”.

The Tribunal record said: “Further, he continued to pursue the line of questioning and said words to the effect of ‘condoms are not very reliable’ and that he could book her in for a coil.

“Patient B stated that she would never use the word ‘condom’ in front of her children and not discuss any gynaecological issues either.”

After considering evidence, the Tribunal found there was no clinical indication for Dr Bhargava to raise the matter without consent and in non-confidential manner in front of Patient B’s children.

Dr Bhargava was suspended pending an appeal period.

Suspension from the Medical Register means a doctor can no longer practice in the UK.