GP who slept with ‘vulnerable’ patient can return to work

Tribunal: Review hearing hears doctor was ‘embarrassed, ashamed and guilty’ about sexual misconduct

A Perthshire doctor has been allowed to return to work after he was suspended for having a relationship with a vulnerable patient.

Christopher Holden, who worked in Killin, began the three-month romance with the 36-year-old hotel worker after they exchanged “flirtatious” texts and Facebook messages.

The father-of-two, who worked at Killin Medical Practice in Perthshire and qualified as a doctor at Dundee University, also sent the woman a picture of himself lying naked in the bath next to the message: “I’m still too hot”.

A Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) hearing last April heard how the pair had “hugged” and “kissed” during appointments and they had sex for the first time during a visit to her home in November 2011.

When confronted by the allegations the doctor had initially lied about their relationship, claiming the woman was conducting a “vendetta” against him, only confessing after submissions were made by his colleagues.

The doctor also admitted a series of charges relating to his failure to provide good clinical care to five patients between March and September 2012.

A MPTS panel ruled his behaviour violated the fundamental tenets of the doctor-patient relationship and suspended him for a year.

Dr Holden told a review hearing earlier this month he was “embarrassed, ashamed and guilty” of his behaviour and had completed four professional boundaries courses since being banned from working.

The panel ruled it was safe to allow him back to work.

The tribunal’s chairwoman, Claire Sharp, said: “The tribunal noted in your oral evidence you were ashamed by and abhorred your previous sexual misconduct. The tribunal took account of your reflective statement and it considers you have demonstrated even further insight into your sexual misconduct.

“It has noted professional boundaries courses you have attended. The tribunal considers you have taken every step possible to address your sexual misconduct and it considers there is a very low risk of repetition.

“Given all the evidence it considers there is no risk to patients were you to be allowed to return to clinical practice. In the circumstances, the tribunal has determined your fitness to practise is not impaired.”

“Given all the evidence it considers there is no risk to patients were you to be allowed to return to clinical practice. CLAIRE SHARP, TRIBUNAL CHAIRWOMAN

Christopher Holden was suspended after the relationship was exposed.