GP CITED ANGELINA JOLIE AND JADE GOODY AS EXCUSE TO MOLEST FEMALE PATIENTS, COURT HEARS
October 16, 2019
Jack Hardy
Telegraph
AGP molested female patients as young as 11 by using medical stories about celebrities including Angelina Jolie as an excuse for his "invasive" examinations, a court has heard.
Manish Shah allegedly spent four years years carrying out intimate but unnecessary examination on women and children for own sexual gratification at his east London practice.
The 50-year-old yesterday went on trial accused of 34 sexual offences against eight victims aged between 11 and 39 between May 2009 and June 2013.
On one occasion, it is alleged Shah asked a woman if she would like him to examine her breasts after showing her a news story about Jolie having a preventative mastectomy.
He is also accused of citing Jade Goody, the reality star who died of cervical cancer, to persuade a separate woman that an examination was in her best interest.
A jury at the Old Bailey was told Shah, of Romford, east London, had already been convicted of similar allegations relating to 17 other patients.
Kate Bex QC, prosecuting, said: "He took advantage of his position to persuade women to have invasive vaginal examinations, breast examinations and rectal examinations when there was absolutely no medical need for them to be conducted."
Shah allegedly attempted to justify an examination in medical notes by suggesting it was "requested".
The “sexualised” behaviour of the GP was said to be a common theme running through the case, as he would allegedly give patients hugs and kisses.
Other patients would be singled out as “special” or referred to as his “star” for whom he had a soft spot, jurors were told.
Ms Bex said: "A family doctor is a position where trust is essential - a patient must place sufficient trust in the doctor to permit intimate examinations, so as to safeguard her health.
"The prosecution alleges that Dr Shah presented as a caring, considerate and solicitous doctor, prepared to go above and beyond for his patients, but that the evidence as a whole exposes that this was no more than a facade, and that he manipulated and abused the trust placed in him for his own sexual satisfaction."
Shah is alleged to have flouted NHS guidelines on the use of chaperones during intimate examinations and did not always wear gloves.
One patient was left entirely naked on his examination table, it was claimed.
Ms Bex told jurors Shah also breached guidelines on giving healthy women under 25 smear tests and routine breast examinations on women under 50, which were said to cause more harm than good
Shah has denied 13 charges of sexual assault and 21 counts of assault by penetration.
The trial continues.
Message from Executive Director Laura A. Ahearn: Please visit our website at www.crimevictimscenter.org for news, information and resources in your community.
Follow on:
Comments are closed.