A former paramedic has been jailed for more than ten years after secretly administering an abortion drug to his pregnant partner, causing the loss of her unborn child in what prosecutors described as a “calculated and heinous” abuse of trust.
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Stephen Doohan, formerly a clinical team leader with the Scottish Ambulance Service, was sentenced at Glasgow High Court to 10 years and six months in prison after pleading guilty to assaulting and sexually assaulting a pregnant woman. He has also been placed on the sex offenders register and banned indefinitely from contacting the victim.
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The court heard that Doohan met the woman while on holiday in Ibiza, and the two continued to see each other regularly. After she later discovered she was pregnant and identified him as the father, the pair initially agreed to keep the baby. By that time, Doohan had separated from his wife.
However, prosecutors said he began researching abortion methods shortly after learning of the pregnancy. Evidence showed he accessed information about the drug misoprostol using a work system linked to his role in the health service.
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In March 2023, Doohan carried out the act that led to the termination of the pregnancy. During what the woman believed was a consensual encounter, he inserted a syringe containing the drug into her vagina without her knowledge or consent. She later told the court she felt “something hard” but assumed it was a sex toy.
The following day, she began to experience symptoms, including abdominal pain and the discharge of a white substance. As her condition worsened, she took medication to ease the discomfort. Two days later, Doohan repeated the act, administering a second dose of the drug after the first attempt failed to end the pregnancy.
When confronted, he initially denied any involvement before later admitting what he had done. The court heard that he attempted to persuade the victim to conceal the truth, rehearsing a false explanation for the miscarriage.
Shortly afterwards, the woman collapsed and was taken to hospital, where she was informed she was having a miscarriage. In the days that followed, Doohan sent her gifts, including money and personal items, in what prosecutors described as attempts to maintain control and influence.
In May 2025, Doohan appeared in court and pleaded guilty. The sentencing judge heard that his actions caused both physical harm and lasting emotional and psychological trauma. The victim now lives with what officials described as the “anguish” of losing her pregnancy and the betrayal of trust.
A separate hearing by the Health and Care Professions Tribunal Service struck Doohan off the professional register, preventing him from working in healthcare. The panel found that he had deliberately abused his medical knowledge and unlawfully accessed information through his workplace to plan the offence.
Fiona Kirkby, procurator fiscal for High Court sexual offences, said the case represented a serious breach of trust.
“His calculated and heinous actions caused the loss of the victim’s pregnancy, robbing her of plans she had for the future,” she said.
She added that while such crimes are rare, the prosecution sends a clear message that abuse of trust and sexual harm will be dealt with firmly.
The case has raised concerns about the misuse of professional knowledge within healthcare roles. For the victim, however, the consequences remain deeply personal — a lasting trauma marked by loss, deception and betrayal
