Doctor with child porn conviction working at Chester hospital

Jun 11 2009 by David Holmes, Liverpool Daily Post

A SHAMED doctor who downloaded pornographic pictures of children while working as a Navy surgeon is now working at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

Dr Stuart Ruthven had all restrictions lifted on his ability to practise after a General Medical Council panel reviewed his case.

The panel heard Dr Ruthven made a career change into pathology, where there was no clinical contact with patients.

It concluded: “While public confidence and trust is always jeopardised by a doctor engaging in any way with child pornography, the exceptional circumstances of this case and the journey you have been on since your convictions should reassure the public you are now a doctor who can practise in your chosen field without restriction.”

The former Royal Navy surgeon was convicted at Manchester Crown Court in 2003 of making indecent photographs of children, ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for five years and given an 18-month community rehabilitation order.

He was arrested in 2003 as part of a national police crackdown on child pornography after a tip-off from the FBI.