A general practitioner, Dr. Varaha Vijaya Nageswara Konathala, from the Essex border will be permitted to resume work despite having improperly groped a woman’s breasts during a consultation. The patient visited Dr. Varaha Vijaya Nageswara Konathala’s clinic due to ankle pain.
The physician was employed at Kenwood Medical Centre in Gants Hill, Redbridge when he was suspended for one year by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) last February. A preliminary tribunal panel determined that Dr. Varaha Vijaya Nageswara Konathala inappropriately touched a patient’s breasts with sexual intent.
On February 26 of this year, a second tribunal panel determined that Dr Varaha Vijaya Nageswara Konathala may resume unrestricted practice following the completion of his one-year suspension, as he “does not pose a risk of harm to the public.” The doctor was previously scrutinised by the Metropolitan Police following complaints made in 2019.
Nevertheless, the force opted to refrain from more action due to challenges with the evidence, and Dr. Varaha Vijaya Nageswara Konathala has consistently refuted the claims. In 2019, the initial tribunal was informed that a lady, designated as “Patient A,” consulted Dr. Konathala regarding ankle pain and then requested contraception at the same consultation.
The tribunal heard Dr. Konathala state that he required a general health examination before proceeding to lift her top and touch her back, chest, and breasts. The patient perceived Dr. Varaha Vijaya Nageswara Konathala’s conduct as “extremely unsettling and peculiar,” asserting that “his manner of touching me did not resemble a medical examination.”
In her testimony, she stated: “I felt numb due to the discomfort of the situation, and in my mind, I was attempting to rationalise that perhaps this was standard procedure and nothing was amiss.” It was only at the conclusion that he approached me closely, creating the impression that he intended to kiss me; at that moment, I departed, adjusted my top, and subsequently took a seat.
Patient A reported that she wept uncontrollably immediately after exiting the surgery and proceeded to inform the police to prevent “others from enduring this.” Following Dr. Varaha Vijaya Nageswara Konathala’s denial, no subsequent actions were undertaken, as the police believed they lacked sufficient evidence to justify filing charges.
Dr. Varaha Vijaya Nageswara Konathala stated in testimony: “I did not examine Patient A’s breasts, back, or chest as claimed.” I refute the allegation that I made contact with her torso, back, hips, and breasts. Nonetheless, several aspects of his testimony were considered “implausible,” leading the misconduct panel to impose a one-year suspension, with a mandate to reassess the situation after the passage of twelve months.
In February, information was presented on Dr. Varaha Vijaya Nageswara Konathala’s behalf indicating that he had contemplated the first findings and acquired understanding. He has reportedly engaged in thorough reflection of his learning, the improvements he has made, and the integration of this learning into his future practice, while also suggesting the implementation of safeguards.
The misconduct panel concluded: “The tribunal determined that Dr. Varaha Vijaya Nageswara Konathala had gained substantial insight into his misconduct, had engaged in comprehensive and pertinent remediation, and exhibited a minimal risk of recurrence.” In light of the substantial advancements Dr. Varaha Vijaya Nageswara Konathala achieved in cultivating understanding and rectifying his behaviour, the tribunal determined that an additional finding of impairment was unnecessary to uphold public confidence.
The panel concluded that permitting Dr. Varaha Vijaya Nageswara Konathala to resume unrestricted practice posed no danger of harm to the public. It was concluded that his fitness to practise was no longer compromised and that the public interest had been sufficiently served by the 12-month ban and his subsequent endeavours to gain insight and rectify.
You can read the BS appeal here.
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