A doctor wrongly accused of fondling a patient’s breasts has had his complaint against a regional daily upheld by the press watchdog.

Dr Angamuthu Arunkalaivanan complained to the Independent Press Standards Organisation that the Birmingham Mail had breached Clause 1 (Accuracy) and Clause 2 (Opportunity to reply) of the Editors’ Code of Practice in an online article headlined ‘Doctor who fondled patient’s breasts is allowed back into medical practice’, published on 5 October 2014, and in the print edition of the article headlined ‘Doctor has ‘fondle’ ban lifted’, published the following day.

The newspaper had reported that the complainant had successfully appealed a ruling by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service after a misconduct ruling was quashed by the High Court.

The complainant said the Mail had inaccurately stated he had been “struck off” from the Medical Register, that he was a GP and not a gynaecologist, and that he had practised at Birmingham Medical Institute Hospital rather than BMI Edgbaston Hospital.

He added using the word “fondled” in the headline was also inaccurate as the High Court had ruled his actions had not been sexually motivated, and contested that he had been suspended.

The Mail accepted it had been inaccurate regarding the use of the term “struck off”, and the complainant’s job title and hospital where he worked.

It offered to publish a correction on page two of the newspaper and online, as well as amending the copy to make clear he had been “accused” of fondling a patient’s breasts.

The IPSO Committee upheld the complaint under Clause 1, but found that as the Mail had offered to publish a correction there had been no breach of Clause 2.

Its findings added: “In addition to the points already covered by the proposed correction, the wording should be revised to make it plain that the decision to suspend the complainant had been quashed.

“This should be published on page two and online – in line with the newspaper’s offer.”

The full adjudication can be read here.