Dr Vladislav Rogozov, a Czech-born consultant in a UK hospital has been suspended after revealing details of an altercation between him a female Muslim doctor who attempted to participate in a joint surgical operation while wearing her Hijab.
The incident occurred in the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield.
Dr Rogozov, who has worked in the UK for ten years, told an online blog that he had no choice than to confront the female consultant and advise her to put on the recommended headgear because wearing the Hijab breaches the strict dress code of an operating theatre.
Religious headscarfs are “excluded in areas such as theatre, where they could present a health and cross-infection hazard”, according to the strict dress code, Daily Mail reports.
The un-named Muslim doctor refused to remove her Hijab and stormed out of the theatre and a replacement was found.
She later accused Dr Rogozov, 46, of racial discrimination, which led to an internal hospital investigation.
Dr Rogozov was absolved of any blame and the Muslim surgeon left the hospital.
The matter was not made public at the time.
Now Dr Rogozov has been suspended pending an investigation, after details of the incident appeared on a blog in Czech Republic and a newspaper in Slovakia, The Sun reports.
He also claimed there were instances when a male Muslim doctor recited Koranic verses during operation and some took prayer breaks during operation.
In a blog post on a Czech website, Dr Rogozov added: “IF the medics in a developed country are afraid to draw attention to threats to patient safety because of accusations of racism, then it is an example of the absurdity of multiculturalism.”
The Sun quoted a source as saying: “Dr Rogozov won’t tolerate anything that puts patients at risk. It has nothing to do with the medics being Muslims. It’s his fear they let their beliefs come before the patients.”