A senior doctor has apologised and been suspended for praising Adolf Hitler and calling Jewish people "horrible" during an antisemitic work rant. Dr Mili Shah, 47, sat back in her office chair and told a shocked colleague of her support for the Nazi leader in a "nasty and venomous" tone, a tribunal heard.

The consultant dermatologist at Liverpool's Broadgreen Hospital had been investigated over allegations of sub-standard care to patients by a doctor known only as 'Mr E', when unleashing a tirade of abuse about him to a third member of staff. As a medical secretary listened on in horror, Shah said: "All this antisemitism…if Hitler was around today I would support him as he got rid of horrible little f**kers like him’."

The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) in Manchester was told the secretary, named only as Ms D, walked out in disgust and later reported Dr Shah.

Ms D told the hearing: "I cannot forget that interaction, it is seared into my memory.

"When I think of it now, I am back in that room and able to recall it all. I was also concerned about being implicated in Dr Shah’s views and that’s partly what drove me to report her.

"It has caused me a lot of stress and anxiety."

At the MPTS, Shah was found guilty of serious professional misconduct and suspended from medical practise for four months. It is not known if the target of her venomous tongue 'Mr E' actually was Jewish.

The hearing was told the incident occurred in September 2021 after a complaint was made against Shah for failing to arrange medical procedures and complete paperwork - prompting Mr E to investigate.

A witness told how she had been confronted by Dr Shah over a delayed letter and added: "She became very animated, punching the air and was saying in a loud voice she was going to make a complaint against Mr E.

"Dr Shah then paused before she spoke again and her tone changed. I would describe her tone as nasty and venomous as she said ‘all this antisemitism…if Hitler was around today I would support him as he got rid of horrible fuckers like him’.

"She pointed aggressively as she referred to ‘him’ and she was pointing in the direction of Mr E’s office which was down the hallway, so Dr Shah was kind-of pointing through the wall in that direction."

She added: "She went into her office, but kept coming back into ours - she was like a dog with a bone coming in back and forth.

"She kept coming in saying she was going to make a complaint. I told the girls that I was going on my lunch, because her behaviour was making me feel uncomfortable.

"On my way home, the words were going over and over again in my mind and I’ll never forget them. I was upset and spoke to my husband when I got home.

"I’ve never experienced anything like this. I felt I needed to tell my manager, one because of the severity of what she said and two because I didn’t want to be implicated in any conversation like that and I felt uncomfortable as it was just me and her in her office and no other witnesses."

Dr Shah claimed she could not remember making the comment but admitted acting "unprofessionally."

She said: "I absolutely do not recognise myself as someone who would use those words.

"Remarks of that nature are abhorrent to me, and do not in any way reflect my personality, my belief systems, or in any way my character. I wish to convey my sincere apologies to Mr E for this alleged remark as I abhor antisemitism and racism.

"There was no conscious negative intent or purpose behind my words. If I did make this comment, I feel it was borne out of frustration and my negative mindset at that time.

"I am truly sorry and have taken multiple steps to reflect and learn from this. I once again apologise wholeheartedly to both Ms. D, Mr. E and anyone who has been affected both directly and indirectly by my words and conduct if I did make this comment. I have no negative feelings or intent towards the Jewish community."

Her lawyer Stephen Brassington said his client has since had a meeting with a Rabbi and added: "Dr Shah cannot recall the incident but it is likely she was not acting rationally and not acting in accordance with her beliefs.

"She was not intending to cause offence because she was in a disassociated state."

MPTS chairman Mr Lindsay Irvine said: "The tribunal reminded itself of the build up to the comments including the context and her own admission Dr Shah was frustrated and vexed at the situation.

"It determined that the only reasonable inference to be drawn from the evidence is that she made the antisemitic comment regarding Mr E with the purpose of violating his dignity, creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment."