Dr Kolathur Sreekantan Unni, now aged 53, was struck off in 1989 for "sexually stimulating" two female patients - one of whom was heavily pregnant - while he was a consultant at Te Kuiti Hospital in New Zealand.

However, being struck off by the GMC is not necessarily permanent - doctors can apply to have their place on the medical register restored if they show they have taken steps to prevent the original problem recurring.

Dr Unni was re-instated at his third application, having worked for some time as a shelf stacker.

The woman - a mother of two from Essex - claimed the council had not taken sufficient action against Dr Unni for alleged further indecency against her and other possible victims.

Police eventually removed her from the council's main double doors at its headquarters on Hallam Street in London.

Controversial rulings

Other recent GMC decisions have caused controversy, such as the case of Dr Ken Taylor who withdrew nutrition from an 85-year-old woman.

Some pro-life groups said he left her to starve to death, and were shocked when he was given a six month suspension from the medical register in March - although this was recently extended by a further three months.

Frank Dobson criticised the Bristol decision

In the case of the Bristol Royal Infirmary paediatric heart surgery case, the fact that one of the three accused doctors was allowed to continue practising - albeit on adults only for three years - caused outrage at the highest level.

Then Health Secretary Frank Dobson called the judgement into question saying all three doctors should have been struck off and ordered a public inquiry into the affair.

However, the GMC, which is currently facing a backlog of complaints, is taking steps to try and make its procedures more transparent.