A South African doctor has been permanently removed from the UK medical register following a shocking case of misconduct involving sexual offences that shook the medical profession.
Nicholas Chapman, a 57-year-old physician who practiced in Somerset, England, was found guilty of heinous acts against two women, leading to a community order and a subsequent medical tribunal decision to erase him from the register.
The scandal first erupted in June 2023, when Chapman was convicted of attempting to engage in sexual activity without consent after a particularly disturbing incident where he reportedly placed his semen into a woman’s hot beverage, an act described by the victim as ‘devious and cowardly,’ as per report from BBC News.
The victim, referred to as Ms B in tribunal documents, expressed the lasting effects of the trauma, saying that while she hoped to move on, ‘the mental and emotional trauma I have suffered throughout this will always remain with me in some way,‘
In addition to the coffee incident, the tribunal also highlighted inappropriate behaviour towards a second woman, known as Ms A.
Over a period of years, Chapman had shown her unsolicited photographs of naked women and made unwelcome advances, such as kissing and pinching her during what he falsely claimed to be benign interactions.
These actions were deemed as creating a ‘degrading environment’ and were categorically classified as sexual harassment.
The Medical Practitioners Tribunal concluded that there was a lack of insight from Chapman regarding the consequences of his actions.
Notably, the tribunal noted that there was no evidence of guilt or a willingness to reflect on his transgressions. While Chapman acknowledged his conviction, he continued to assert his innocence, demonstrating a concerning disregard for the gravity of his behaviour.
During the tribunal hearings, another physician from Chapman’s practice articulated the far-reaching impacts of his misconduct.
‘The impact of Chapman’s actions on the reputation of the practice and trust in doctors was still huge,’ they remarked.
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