‘You make me feel like a child with ice cream, doctor told his patient’
A LEADING kidney doctor became infatuated with a woman patient and told her she was ‘sexy’ in a series of flirty phone calls, confessing: ‘You got under my skin,’ a tribunal heard.
Professor Iain Macdougall, 60, who is internationally renowned for his research into chronic kidney disease, even allegedly asked the woman, who was battling alcohol problems, out for a drink.
In the calls, the Scots consultant admitted: ‘I am like a child liking ice cream and chocolate at the same time.’
A hearing of the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service in Manchester was told that after an appointment with the woman, known as patient A, in June 2016, Macdougall called her three times over three days and left two voicemails, totalling 65 minutes.
She was left in tears by the calls and reported Macdougall – who is professor of clinical nephrology at King’s College Hospital in London – to his colleagues.
The tribunal heard that the woman died soon after, but there was no suggestion Macdougall’s actions contributed to her death.
Rebecca Vanstone, representing the GMC, said patient A confided in a neighbour, who agreed to record the calls.
Macdougall, who is originally from Glasgow, held his head in his hands as the tapes were played to the panel. In one exchange, Macdougall, who has been married to his second wife for 14 years, said: ‘I fancied you, I’m going to be honest, I was infatuated by you. I would like to see you.’
Patient A said: ‘I don’t want to be involved with anybody ... I want to detox. I don’t want to drink any more. You just took your doctor hat off. I don’t go in any pubs, I do not want to see you. What have you done?’ The woman hung up but he called her straight back. She accused Macdougall of abusing his position because she was ‘really vulnerable’.
He apologised but added: ‘If I was single and you were single, I would have asked you out on a date and we would go for dinner in a fantasy world. I fancied you, I liked you. You attract doctors, you should take it as a massive compliment that you attract doctors.’
Later in the same call Macdougall insisted he wanted to help the woman. But she replied: ‘I’m in detox and I’m shaking. I want to get well. If you knew anything about alcoholism, you would know how hard it is. I don’t get into relationships, I don’t want to.’
In other calls, Macdougall told the woman ‘you kind of slightly got under my skin’.
Miss Vanstone said the calls were ‘inappropriate’. She said: ‘Macdougall had previously told her he thought she was sexy and said, “I can’t help thinking things”.’
Patient A reported Macdougall on July 1, 2016. Some weeks after that, she died. Miss Vanstone said: ‘The GMC do not say his actions contributed to or caused in any way patient A’s death. But the tribunal must consider the doctorpatient status.’
The doctor was recognised in 2016 by the Royal College of Physicians and National Institute for Health Research for his ‘outstanding research leadership in the NHS’.
He admitted making the calls. ‘I was desperately trying to keep her OK,’ he said. ‘I enjoyed that conversation, I felt I had a benefit from it and I thought she felt a benefit from it, but I do not accept those comments were sexually motivated. The comments I made were because I cared about her.
‘They were banter, they had no meaning behind them, I didn’t want a sexual relationship. I stupidly thought bantering with her would help her. I’m very sorry.’
The hearing continues.