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Doc convicted of buying sex sues over sacking

Published: 29 Aug 12 18:26 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/42898/20120829/

A Stockholm-area doctor who was fired after being convicted for paying for sex is suing his former employer, arguing his termination violates Swedish employment law.

The 50-year-old doctor was caught by police in March after allegedly having paid 1,000 kronor ($1,000) for a "quickie" with a woman he met via an escort service, the Aftonbladet newspaper reported.

While the doctor maintained he never had sex with the woman, he was nevertheless convicted in June of buying sex, which is a crime in Sweden.

Following his conviction, the doctor was fired from his job.

According to the hospital's human resources director, it was "absolutely unacceptable" to a chief physician convicted of buying sex working at the hospital.

"We no longer have faith in the chief," the HR director told the paper at the time.

The doctor didn't help matters by later threatening the prostitute to withdraw her testimony against him.

Nevertheless, the doctor has since filed a lawsuit against the hospital seeking his job back as well as 175,000 kronor ($26,300) in compensation for what he argues was an unjust firing.

In making his case for reinstatement, the doctor references two previous labour court rulings in which men convicted of buying sex while abroad were allowed to keep their jobs because the encounters were viewed as one-time digressions.

According to the doctor, he deeply regrets the momentary lapse in judgment which led him to purchase see after a stressful day at work.

His lawsuit argues further that the firing violates Swedish employment law and the hospital had no right to suspend him while the case was still in court.

When contacted about the doctor's lawsuit, however, the hospital HR manager refused to comment.

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21:20 August 29, 2012 by prince T
this guy must not have been main stream swedish. that is the reason there has been no comment on this forum
21:58 August 29, 2012 by BackpackerKev
If the man didn't have sex, then he merely payed for her company which if im not mistaken in the primary role of an Escort Service..

You don't pay your restaurant bill before you eat the food.
22:14 August 29, 2012 by adigunbabatunde@yahoo.com
"The 50-year-old doctor was caught by police in March after allegedly having paid 1,000 kronor ($1,000)"

Since when did 1,000 kronor= $1000. so which is which?

" seeking his job back".

What job?
00:40 August 30, 2012 by Abe L
These absurd rules should really be abandoned, just legalise prostitution, it's good for the economy.
01:12 August 30, 2012 by Just_Kidding
He can take his knowledge and immigrate to Germany, and his needs will be catered for by the society in a legal manner.
08:10 August 30, 2012 by Borilla
If he did not pay for sex why is he apologizing for his "momentary transgression" of paying for sex? The issue is not whether or not criminalization of paying for sex is a bad public policy, it is whether he intentionally broke the law. If a"chief physician" will intentionally break that rule, what other rules, including those related to patient well-being, will he intentionally disregard "after a stressful day at work"? Besides, if he doesn't have a job, how can he pay for more sex?
10:38 August 30, 2012 by robban70226
I agree These absurd rules should really be abandoned, just legalise prostitution, it's good for the economy.

but in the other side what else is the polis good for? giving tickets for overspeed and harrasing people in bicycles... Must justify their existance somehow..
10:51 August 30, 2012 by heu
@Abe: the prohibition is not so absurd in fact. It is in place to fight human trafficking, which is a serious problem specially in countries where prostitution is legal.
11:50 August 30, 2012 by JulieLou40
How could he have known which woman to harass if he didn't do anything??
17:38 August 30, 2012 by CJ from Sunshine Desserts
Old Italian proverb : Don`t poo in the kitchen ! Apart from that if he`s on say 70,000SEK a month he can afford to travel down to belgium/holland/germany & get plenty of cheap sex there. As an example for only €100 you can attend a 4-6 hour sex party at brothels in Belgium , unlimited acces to 4-6 women all considerably less than the 2000kr/ 30 min being charged by Stockholm escort girls. An you don`t have the risk of being arrested, safe sex included. Apart from that artificial vagina technology has developed over the past few years, the latest from Japan are quite realistic...repeal the sexköp law and either criminalise the whore as well or decriminalise both partners...imagine if it was illegal to buy ciggies but not to sell them !? ditto alcohol/petrol....mvh your libertine
09:09 August 31, 2012 by Just_Kidding
If they want to fight human trafficking, create huge punishments for pimping and human trafficking. In Germany many prostitutes have a normal life and work few days a week and do in with their will. How prostitutes are different from women who marry only rich and financially stable males?
17:55 August 31, 2012 by CJ from Sunshine Desserts
Kind of absurd when you think about the doctor at the KI who was re-instated after infecting multiple partners with HIV.
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