Autism is no excuse for a GP to exploit his patients

THE GP accused of terrifying a female patient by telling her that he liked ‘rough sex’ is possibly on the autism spectrum and may need therapy to improve his communications skills.

The middle-aged doctor appeared before a Medical Council Fitness to Practise Committee this week where he admitted to delivering bizarre monologues in his surgery.

He did not realise that performing karate moves in front of patients may be intimidating or that he could have freaked out his young patient by talking about his sex life.

Eccentric behaviour and communication difficulties are often the hallmarks of autism, but the type of behaviour described to the committee could also qualify as nothing more than annoying David Brent-like carry on. After all, only those who are marginally afflicted by autism could pass the medical exams, not to mention cope with the long hours of training. Perhaps the GP did qualify without one of his supervisors drawing attention to his weird bedside manner. If so, it’s frightening to think that our most elite profession puts such a low premium on empathy and people skills. Or perhaps the doctor’s defence is to exaggerate so-called autistic traits in order to build a case. If that’s what is happening, then it’s a pity that a serious condition that can cause social isolation and depression is being exploited.