A married doctor has admitted being caught having sex with a nurse in an operating theatre after he had left a patient mid-operation.
Dr Suhail Anjum and the nurse were caught by a "shocked" colleague in a "compromising position" at Tameside Hospital, a medical tribunal was told.
The tribunal heard that 44-year-old Dr Anjum, a consultant anaesthetist, asked another colleague to monitor his male patient midway through the surgery so that he could take a "comfort break".
However, Dr Anjum then had sex with a woman, known as "Nurse C", in a different operating theatre at the hospital in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester.
The incident occurred at Tameside Hospital in Greater Manchester
|Representing the General Medical Council (GMC), Andrew Molloy said a colleague named "Nurse NT" went into the theatre and "encountered Dr Anjum and Nurse C in a compromising position".
He added: "Nurse NT was shocked and quickly walked through the theatre to the exit doors.
"Dr Anjum returned to theatre five and was gone for about eight minutes before his return.
"It is right to say that no harm came to the patient when Dr Anjum was absent from the theatre and the procedure went on without further incident."
Mr Molloy told the tribunal that Nurse NT reported the incident to her line manager after it took place on September 16, 2023.
Before the case started, Dr Anjum admitted engaging in sexual activity with Nurse C, and did not dispute any of the facts of the case.
He said he left Tameside Hospital in February 2024 and moved back to his native Pakistan, however he wanted to resume his career in the UK.
He promised the "one-off error of judgement" would not be repeated.
Giving evidence in the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS), he said: "It was quite shameful, to say the least. I only have myself to blame.
"I let down everybody, not just my patient and myself but the trust and how it would look.
"I let down my colleagues who gave me a lot of respect."
Dr Anjum continued: "But, most importantly the patient. If my doctor had gone away without telling me... this breaks me to pieces every day when I think about it.
"I have always set very high standards for myself because the job is my passion. I don't know how and why it happened but I wish I could reverse it. I offer my sincere apologies to everyone involved and I want the opportunity to put this right."
According to Dr Anjum, the incident took place during a "stressful time" in his life and for his family after the birth of his youngest child in January 2023.
He said: "Our daughter was born premature, with a very, very low birth weight.
"My wife had a very traumatic delivery, it was quite a stressful experience. We failed to connect as a couple during that time.
"It took a toll on my personal life, my mental health and well-being, and my work at the hospital."
The hearing will continue on Friday, with submissions expected on whether misconduct has impaired Dr Anjum's fitness to practise.