Surgeon suspended for harassment

James Gilbert, a transplant surgeon at the Oxford Transplant Centre, has been suspended for eight months after being found guilty of sexually harassing four female colleagues, three of whom were trainees. Complaints against Gilbert date back to 2014, with one victim stating she felt powerless to report his inappropriate conduct, including unconsented tickling and shoulder massages. Despite being excluded from work in May 2021 due to concerns about his behavior, he was allowed to return with restrictions shortly thereafter. A subsequent investigation was prompted by an email sent to surgical trainees that encouraged them to report concerns, leading to Gilbert's dismissal in May 2022 and referral to the General Medical Council (GMC). The GMC detailed a history of misconduct from 2009 to 2022, which Gilbert denied. The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service ultimately ruled that he had abused his senior position by making inappropriate sexual comments and touching, alongside racist remarks.