Third of sexual misconduct allegations against doctors are from colleagues

More than a third of sexual misconduct complaints made against doctors at tribunals come from their colleagues, new data indicate.

Figures from the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) show that it handled 48 cases involving sexual misconduct allegations against doctors in 2025. Of these, 37.5% of allegations were made by a healthcare colleague, and 35.4% were allegations involving patients.

Overall, the MPTS considered 270 cases in 2025 during 150 hearings. Allegations of dishonesty (27.4%) were most common, followed by cases involving sexual misconduct (17.8%).

Other types of cases involved clinical concerns, doctors who do not recognise that they have an adverse health condition impairing their fitness to practise, violent or abusive behaviour, substance misuse, and discrimination.

The new data relate to all types of allegations heard by MPTS tribunals. Not all the allegations will have been proved, as tribunals make independent decisions based on the evidence presented. The MPTS said that in some cases doctors may have faced allegations made by more than one person, covering more than one category.

Fiona Monk, MPTS chair, said, “These figures paint a deeply concerning picture for those working in healthcare. Healthcare professionals should be free to do their jobs without fear of becoming a target of sexual misconduct.

“I know concerns have been raised about how some of these cases have been handled. I have had many conversations with those raising concerns, which have shown me that we all share the desire to root out sexual misconduct across the healthcare system.”

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Source: BMJ, 28 August 2026