Ban on ‘Botox queen’ who bugged surgeon rival’s consultations
was suspended from practising medicine for six months for breaching patient confidentiality and “dishonest and misleading” conduct.
It emerged Dr Blakely and Dr Forrester were involved in a business dispute over alleged undercharging for clinic services.
Giving evidence one woman, known as Patient A, said: “I have never met Dr Blakely and didn’t know I was being was recorded.
“It was unpleasant to not know who could have heard. I feel very uncomfortable about the whole thing.”
The anti-ageing clinic founded by Blakely and her sister Katie in 2009 specialises in non-invasive procedures.
Gavin McBride, a lawyer for the GMC, said: “Between October 2015 and March 2016 an investigation was carried out into Dr Blakely’s conduct.
“Transcripts were obtained of covert recordings of consultations between (Dr Forrester) and clients of the clinic. Around 200 patients over that period were in these recordings – made without their knowledge or consent.”
Finding her guilty of misconduct, tribunal chairman David Robinson said: “Patients must be able to trust that their right to confidentiality is paramount.
“Dr Blakely knowingly used untrue statements to defend her actions in making the covert recordings.
“Using such untrue information would be considered dishonest by ordinary, decent people.”