Operating department practitioner David J E Foster has been struck off the HPC Register following a conviction at Kingston-upon-Hull Crown Court for a number of offences under the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

A panel of the HPC Conduct and Competence Committee heard how David J E Foster had been sentenced to five years in prison and was placed on the sex offenders register for life.

Panel Chair Mr Charles O'Brian commented:

"The registrant's conviction for sexual offences of this nature demonstrates a sustained and repeated course of behaviour involving a number of female patients who were all in a very vulnerable position in operating theatres recovering from anesthesia. The Panel is satisfied that this constituted a serious abuse of trust"

"It was evident from the Crown Court Judge's remarks that not only was there a background of previous incidents involving inappropriate touching but there was also a history of repeated, and indeed more serious, behaviour including a further serious incident after the registrant had been arrested and placed on bail"

The Panel concluded that not only was this misconduct very distressing and potentially harmful to these patients but it has the potential to undermine public confidence in the health professions as a whole as well as damaging the reputation of operating department practitioners.

The panel decided the most appropriate action was to strike David J E Foster from the Register.

David J E Foster neither attended nor was represented at the hearing.

Source:
Health Professions Council