Doctor banned in the UK suspended in Spain over sexual misconduct
A doctor prohibited from practicing medicine in the United Kingdom for malpractice and sexual misconduct has been suspended in Spain following revelations from a joint investigation by Spanish outlet infoLibre and the OCCRP-led “Bad Practice” project.
The Colegio Oficial de Médicos de Alicante (COMA) confirmed to infoLibre media outlet that it has provisionally suspended Argentine-born surgeon Jorge Horacio Esbry and initiated disciplinary proceedings against him, while forwarding his case to the provincial prosecutor’s office. COMA stated it believed “a criminal offense and a violation of the code of ethics and statutes” could have taken place.
Esbry, who worked at a London clinic from 2015, was struck off in 2020 by the U.K.’s Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) after findings of clinical misconduct, dishonest practices, and sexual behavior involving a patient. The tribunal stated Esbry attempted to kiss a patient, made verbal sexual remarks, and performed breast-implant surgery against her wishes. It banned him from practicing medicine in the U.K., stating immediate suspension was necessary “to protect the public.”
Despite the U.K. sanction, Esbry continued practicing as a cosmetic and reconstructive surgeon in Spain, where he was already registered. According to infoLibre’s findings, his work spanned private clinics in Alicante and Murcia until the “Bad Practice” investigation highlighted his case this October.
Under COMA’s notice to the clinics, Esbry is now barred from practicing while the disciplinary process remains pending the prosecutor’s decision on criminal charges.
The case underscores systemic gaps in Spain’s oversight of doctors sanctioned abroad. Under current rules, physicians already registered in Spain before malpractice abroad can continue working unless Spanish authorities formally act. COMA says a UK alert on Esbry in March 2020 was delayed and procedural verification failed amid the onset of the COVID-19 lockdown.
COMA has initiated a review of all its members and found no other cases like Esbry’s so far. In contrast, other regional colleges in Madrid, Almería and Navarra contacted by infoLibre have not taken any disciplinary action against other doctors flagged in the “Bad Practice” investigation.
The “Bad Practice” investigation, coordinated by OCCRP along with The Times and Norway’s VG, uncovered dozens of doctors banned in one country but licensed in another by building a cross-border database of 2.5 million licensing records from more than 50 countries.
Esbry reportedly declined to comment on the allegations despite repeated requests.
Editor-in-Chief
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
