An NHS gynaecologist has been struck off after he exposed himself to a 16-year-old girl at a McDonald’s drive-through. Dr Emmanuel Hakem committed the act after the girl gave him his order at a branch in Bristol in October 2022.
The gynaecologist who was training in obstetrics and gynaecology at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust at the time was erased from the medical register earlier this month. Hakem drove up to the drive-through window at the fast food store and unzipped his trousers to reveal his genitals as he was handed his meal. He then drove away with one hand on his lap and one hand on the steering wheel.
The McDonald’s worker – a 16-year-old girl – was left horrified, a tribunal heard. The “distressed” teenager immediately reported the incident to a manager, and Dr Hakem was subsequently arrested.
After his arrest, Hakem was still allowed to see patients but was required to have a chaperone, according to the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS).
He moved to the Royal Cornwall Hospital in October 2023, but did not start work there as he was charged by the police and subsequently excluded from clinical practice.
Hakem denied any wrongdoing, claiming that he did not act “in a sexual manner” and was “adjusting himself” with his underwear on.
He was found guilty of exposure by a jury in September 2024 and was placed on the sex offenders register. He was also sentenced to a 42-day community order and was required to undergo rehabilitation.
Speaking to the tribunal, Hakem said he did not “act in a sexual manner” but said the tribunal must take his conviction as “conclusive evidence”.
He said he “recognised the distress caused to the female employee and expressed an understanding of the impact of the incident on her”.
Jonathan Lally, representing the General Medical Council, said Dr Hakem’s conviction was “reprehensible” and “prejudiced the reputation of the medical profession”.
He said: “The conviction involved a sexual offence committed in a public place, against a young female working in a public-facing role, at her place of work.
“These aggravating features heighten the seriousness of the case, particularly given that Dr Hakem’s clinical work lies in the field of obstetrics and gynaecology, where he routinely examines female patients and is entrusted with their most intimate care.”
Laura Stephenson, representing Dr Hakem, said that he “fully understood the gravity of the conviction and the seriousness” of it.
Mitigating, she said: “Dr Hakem has an unblemished professional history, with no prior criminal or regulatory concerns in England or Ireland.
“Testimonials from colleagues and supervisors attest to his professionalism, empathy, and respect for others and show that this behaviour was wholly out of character.
“Three years have passed since the incident without any recurrence or cause for concern. His sentence has been completed in full, and he complied with all requirements of the Probation Service.”
The tribunal concluded the erasure of Hakem’s name from the register would “send a clear signal to the public and the profession” that his behaviour is “fundamentally incompatible with continued registration”.