Dr. Mohammad Iqbal, 64, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison after being found guilty of sexually assaulting two female patients during examinations conducted at clinics in Newcastle and Sunderland. The assaults occurred while Iqbal was performing medical assessments to evaluate damages resulting from car accidents. He was found guilty by a jury of two counts of sexual assault, despite pleading not guilty.
During an examination in County Durham, Iqbal rubbed against his first victim in an aroused state for approximately 40 seconds before squeezing her breasts. Weeks later, in Sunderland, he instructed the second victim to remove her top and proceeded to touch both of her naked breasts, according to the victim's account.
Both women had sought medical evaluations for injuries sustained in car accidents. Iqbal, who was a partner at a general practitioner practice and a GP in Ireland, traveled to the UK from his home to conduct these assessments for insurance companies.
One victim, who had suffered significant physical injuries from a car accident, described reliving the trauma during her examination with Iqbal, which led him to recommend psychological counseling in his report. In a victim impact statement, she told the court, "You not only completely betrayed this position but also the medical oath you have taken. You sexually assaulted me that day and I can never forgive you for that."
The second victim stated she experienced a "myriad of emotions," including anger, after the assault. "When Dr. Iqbal chose to assault me in the medical examination I was vulnerable. I remember being in floods of tears recounting what happened during the accident," she said. "He took advantage of that vulnerability and he was wrong to do so... when I left the examination I realised I was in shock and that shock continued for months."
In his sentencing remarks, Judge Bindloss noted that Iqbal was aware of the psychological harm the accident had caused to his first victim, which made her vulnerable. "Patients need to know the doctor they are seeing has their best interests at heart - that's the basis for the whole relationship," the judge stated, emphasizing the breach of trust and its impact on the victims' confidence. He concluded that immediate custody was the only appropriate punishment.
Iqbal's defense counsel acknowledged that his actions had ended a career and brought about his downfall. Character references described Iqbal as a well-regarded doctor, generous, loyal, courteous, and compassionate. He will no longer be able to practice as a doctor.