A respected GP was allowed to subject nine female patients - aged 8 to 40 - to sexual abuse over a period of ten years despite a string of complaints at his South London surgery, a jury were told yesterday.
Senior practise partner Dr. Markandu Ragupathy, 61, the surgery's child protection leader, "Used his position of trust to satisfy his own sexual gratification and curiosity," said prosecutor Mr. Toby Fitzgerald.
From the mid-90's until 2007 the GP,(pic.top) of Den Close, Beckenham, was employed at the Torridon Road Medical Practice in Catford,(pic.bottom) where eight of the complainants say they were sexually assaulted.
"He would say there was a misunderstanding or miscommunication and this was accepted by the senior partner at the practise," Mr. Fitzgerald told Woolwich Crown Court.
"The defendant remained free at the practise to sexually assault other patients and believed the practise would accept any explanation and for some years he was correct in thinking this."
Dr. Ragupathy has pleaded not guilty to fifteen counts of indecent assault; one count of attempted indecent assault and two counts of sexual assault between 1995 and 2005.
"These assaults were carried out during what he purported to be medical examinations, but were for his own sexual gratification and often involved the patients breasts and vaginal area," added Mr. Fitgerald.
"The Crown say there was no clinical reason to carry out the examinations at all or they were carried out in a way that was not clinically justified."
Patient A, 40, went to the GP with a chest cough. "The defendant moved his hands around to her breasts and massaged them with the palms of his hands," said the prosecutor.
She returned, complaining of stomach cramps and thrush. "He asked her to open her legs and he put his finger inside her and started to move it around in a circular motion. She felt he was touching her in a sexual way."
Patient B, 16, saw Dr. Ragupathy with breathlessness. "He put the stethoscope on her left breast and massaged the breast with the stethoscope. She felt disturbed by how the defendant behaved."
Patient C, 20, saw the GP for a sore throat and later suspected tonsillitis. "The defendant touched her breast while listening to her chest with a stethoscope.
"During the second appointment he lifted her jumper and bra, exposing her left breast and lifted it with his hand and repeated with the right breast and said: 'Your chest if fine'."
Patient D, 8, had a chest infection when she attended an appointment with her mother.
"The defendant touched her inner thighs and between her legs and there was no good reason for this. He simply took his chance to touch her this way."
Patient E, 13, an asthmatic smoker saw the GP with a chest infection. "He would put his stethoscope on her nipple and caress her nipple."
Two years later she saw him again while pregnant and with flu symptoms. "The defendant locked the door and began to feel all over her breasts."
Patient F, 30, was wheezing when she saw the doctor. "He placed the stethoscope on her right breast and asked if she was in a relationship."
Patient G, 30, had a thigh rash. "The defendant pulled her knickers to one side. He just took the chance, which he saw as a sexual opportunity."
She returned with bruising inflicted by her boyfriend. "The defendant put his hands inside the waistband of her jeans and pulled them towards him and asked: 'What colour knickers have you got on?"
Patient H, 36, was three months pregnant when she saw Dr. Ragupathy for the first time.
"He announced he needed to check her breasts while holding out his cupped hands. He said he needed to check if she was able to breast feed,"
Patient I, 40, had a rash and was visited at home by the defendant, who was also employed by an out-of-hours service.
"The defendant asked her to sit on his lap so he could listen to her chest and later made a comment about making a woman of her.
"He then went to his car for some medical cream and rubbed it into her chest."
Dr. Ragupathy was arrested and questioned in March and December 2010.
"He denied sexually motivated contact with his patients," added Mr. Fitzgerald.
The trial is expected to last five weeks.
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