Stephen Doohan’s Calculated Crime

Paramedic's Betrayal: The Calculated Plot to End a Pregnancy

A court has handed down a prison term of a decade and a half-year to a former paramedic for a calculated and cruel act. Stephen Doohan secretly gave his pregnant partner a medication intended to cause a miscarriage. The judge described his actions as a profound betrayal that left his victim with enduring anguish for the rest of her life.

A Deceptive Relationship

Stephen Doohan, a man sworn to save lives, used his medical knowledge for a sinister purpose. He met his victim during a holiday in Spain in 2021. Doohan kept his marital status hidden from the woman. Their long-distance relationship continued, punctuated by monthly visits. The woman only learned of his marriage later, but the relationship persisted. He had made it clear during their time together that he did not desire children.

The woman learned in March of 2023 that she was carrying Doohan's child. At that point, he was living apart from his spouse following a temporary split and was living in an apartment in Edinburgh. When she informed him of the pregnancy, they initially agreed to keep the baby and find a place to live together. This apparent support masked a deceptive and malevolent plan.

Image Credit - Freepik

A Heinous Abuse of Trust

The day his partner shared her news, Doohan, who held the position of clinical team leader for the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS), began to plot. He used his access to a restricted medical database, the Joint Royal Colleges Ambulance Liaison Committee application, to research a medication that terminates pregnancies called misoprostol. This was the only occasion his login was used to access this information in the three years the system had been operational. His professional resources became tools for his crime.

A few days after learning of the pregnancy, the woman was at Doohan's residence in the Grange district of Edinburgh. During what she believed to be a consensual sexual encounter, Doohan acted. With the lights off, he inserted something hard into her vagina. At that moment, she did not suspect he was doing anything wrong. The following day, she experienced a chalky white discharge, which Doohan dismissed as normal. Soon after, she started experiencing severe stomach cramps.

A Chilling Discovery

Doohan's deception continued. He gave his victim diazepam, supposedly for her discomfort, which induced a profound slumber. She woke up to discover him engaging her in a sexual act again. He repeated his previous actions, and this time, despite the influence of the sedative, she became suspicious. After Doohan had exited the bedroom, her fears led her to check beneath the mattress. There, she found a syringe filled with crushed tablets and star-shaped pills.

An immediate online search for "abortion tablet" confirmed her terror. The images matched the tablets she had discovered. When confronted, Doohan at first refuted everything before breaking down, professing that he felt frightened. He falsely asserted that he had obtained the tablets from a physician and that the dose was too low to be effective. This was a lie designed to placate her and conceal the gravity of his conduct.

Manipulation and Confession

The woman's physical condition worsened, and she required hospital treatment. Doohan accompanied her to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh but manipulated her into lying to the medical staff, pleading that the truth would lead to his arrest. The following day, she collapsed while showering and required a return trip to the hospital. This time, she insisted her sister accompany her and that Doohan remain outside the room for her examination. It was then that doctors confirmed she was having a miscarriage.

In the aftermath, Doohan attempted to buy her silence with an array of presents, among them perfume, socks, and tickets for a soccer game. However, his victim bravely recorded a conversation where he effectively confessed to his crime. She made a report about him to the Scottish Ambulance Service in May 2023, which triggered a police investigation and his subsequent arrest.

Image Credit - Freepik

Justice in Court

During proceedings in Glasgow's High Court, Stephen Doohan admitted his guilt for assault, sexual assault, and inducing an abortion. The gravity of his offences was not lost on the court. In his sentencing remarks, Judge Lord Colbeck condemned Doohan's meticulous and malicious planning. The judge stated that Doohan had meticulously investigated and organized the attack on his victim. He emphasised how Doohan exploited his professional capacity as a first responder to execute his plan, disguised as a mutually agreed-upon sexual act.

It was revealed in court that Doohan would have faced a 14-year sentence had he not pleaded guilty. His defence counsel, Mark Stewart KC, stated that Doohan felt profound remorse and cited personal issues that affected his judgment, though he conceded this was no excuse. The court also learned that Doohan had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

A Lifetime of Pain

Lord Colbeck highlighted the profound and lasting harm Doohan inflicted. He described the victim's impact statement as being filled with unconcealed anguish. The judge informed Doohan, "You subjected her to significant suffering over several days and have left her with a permanent sense of grief." He added that Doohan had caused "long-term psychological injury" to his victim. The offences, Lord Colbeck remarked, are some of the most grave the court is typically asked to adjudicate.

In addition to the decade-and-a-half-year prison sentence, Doohan's name was added to the sex offenders' register. The judge also imposed an indefinite non-harassment order, forbidding any contact with his victim.

A Betrayal of Public Trust

In a public comment, the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) expressed its horror over the case, calling it "appalling" and commended the victim for her courage. The SAS confirmed they took immediate action upon learning of the allegations, suspending Doohan and offering continuous assistance to the woman throughout the police investigation. His employment with the service has been terminated. His actions were a stark betrayal of the trust placed in him as a healthcare professional, a role he once showcased in the BBC program titled 'Paramedics on Scene.'

Fiona Kirkby, who serves as Procurator Fiscal for high court sexual crimes, also spoke out. She described Doohan's actions as "premeditated and wicked," stating they had robbed the victim of her future plans. Kirkby expressed hope that this legal outcome serves as a strong deterrent against sexual harm and encouraged other victims of such crimes to report these crimes.

Image Credit - Freepik

The Unseen Scars of Coercion

This case sheds light on the devastating reality of reproductive coercion, a form of abuse where an individual's reproductive choices are controlled by another. This can range from pressure to not use contraception to forced termination of a pregnancy. Studies show that women who feel pressured into an abortion are significantly more likely to experience negative emotional and mental health consequences, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

The trauma of a forced abortion is profound. It combines feelings of betrayal, grief, and a violation of bodily autonomy. For many, the experience is perceived as the violent death of their child, leading to lasting psychological scars. Research indicates a strong association between abortion and subsequent mental health issues, with some studies suggesting that a significant percentage of women who have abortions suffer from diagnosable PTSD.

A Wider Pattern of Abuse

Reproductive coercion is often part of a broader pattern of domestic abuse. It is a violation of trust and an assertion of control that can have life-altering consequences. Non-consensual condom removal, or "stealthing," is another form of this abuse that is gaining recognition as a serious sexual offence. In the UK, stealthing is legally considered a form of rape.

These acts violate a person's right to make fundamental decisions about their own body and future. The emotional and psychological toll can be immense, leading to feelings of shame, isolation, and a loss of control. The case of Stephen Doohan is a stark reminder of the devastating impact of such betrayals and the critical importance of holding perpetrators accountable.

A Call for Awareness

The courage of Doohan's victim in reporting his crimes has been widely praised. Her actions have brought a dangerous predator to justice and highlighted a dark form of abuse that often goes unreported. Legal and victim support organisations stress the importance of seeking help. They acknowledge the difficulty of reporting sexual offences but encouraged any person who has been impacted to seek help at a time they deem right.

This case serves as a powerful testament to the resilience of one woman and a solemn warning about the hidden nature of reproductive coercion. It underscores the need for greater awareness and support for victims of these deeply violating crimes. The ten-and-a-half-year sentence handed down to Stephen Doohan reflects the severity of his betrayal and the profound harm he caused.