A DOCTOR from Blackburn has been found guilty by a General Medical Council of groping two young female hospital patients.

Dr Shakir Laher, of Pringle Street, is now waiting to hear if his professional career is in tatters as a result of the misconduct committee ruling.

He had denied conducting unnecessary and indecent examinations on patients aged 17 and 20, in January and July 2004, during an 11-day hearing in Manchester.

But the panel, chaired by Roland Doven, decided that on five separate occasions Dr Laher, working as a senior house officer, had performed either indecent breast or internal examinations.

The first victim, named only as Patient A, had tearfully told the panel how she felt deeply concerned when Dr Laher began a breast examination on her in January 2004.

She had been admitted to the accident and emergency department at Warrington Hospital, suffering from severe internal pains.

The examination occurred after she had been transferred to a private room on a general ward. She could not understand why such a procedure was being carried out, given her injuries.

Dr Laher later performed an internal examination on Patient A, without gloves or a nurse chaperone being present.

Immediately after the experience, she scribbled her feelings of discomfort and unease on paper towels in her room.

She would later complain, six months after being discharged, about Dr Laher's conduct.

Another charge involving Patient A, where he was accused of approaching her after she had undergone an operation, and stroking her hand and neck, was also proved.

The panel rejected further allegations that he had administered a painkilling injection to her and massaged her thigh and bottom.

Dr Laher was also found to have performed indecent examinations on another young woman, Patient B, at the Countess of Chester Hospital, seven months later.