PERVERT doctors must get harsher punishments as the current system allows rapists to keep working with patients, say medical leaders.
The Royal College of Surgeons found tribunals are “falling short in addressing sexual misconduct”.
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Analysis led by John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford found the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service often did not impose sanctions recommended by the General Medical Council.
Punishments were more lenient in a quarter of cases.
More than 200 studied offences from 2023 and 2024 were all committed by male staff, mostly senior doctors, and included rape, sexual harassment and child abuse.
Only two thirds of blokes found guilty were struck off, while 35 per cent were suspended and then allowed to continue practising.
Sexism and harassment are widespread in the health service despite staff and union attempts to root it out.
Polling suggests one in eight NHS staff have experienced unwanted sexual attention at work.
Study author Mei Nortley, a surgeon in Oxford, said the tribunal service is “allowing rapists and sexual predators to return as practising doctors”.
Professor Vivien Lees, of the Royal College of Surgeons, said: “This research highlights deeply concerning inconsistencies.
“The failures risk leaving perpetrators in power and eroding trust in the profession.”
Prof Carrie Newlands, of the Working Party on Sexual Misconduct in Surgery, added: “The current system fails staff, fails patients, and fails to guarantee an environment that delivers safe care.”
Experts said the system should be changed to lower the burden of proof, better identify sinister behaviour, and give less power to accused doctors’ apologies or mitigating factors.
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