GP warned over explicit remarks

Sexual ‘caused more distress’

A DOCTOR accused of making sexually explicit comments to female patients and colleagues has escaped with a formal warning.

Former Tory party candidate Andy Ashworth was hauled before a General Medical Council disciplinary tribunal onThursday.

The watchdog decided to grill him after considering witness statements detailing his “inappropriate and unprofessional” behaviour over a five year period.

The married 57-year-old, who lives in Bo’ness, disputed the allegations and insisted his only intention was to “put patients at ease during consultations”.

But the council disagreed and imposed a mark on his record that will remain for five years.

At the hearing in Manchester a GMC investigator said Dr Ashworth had “shown little insight into the allegations”, and that it was necessary to issue a formal warning “to serve to maintain public confidence in the profession”.

The investigation panel concluded: “In the five years up to 2012, you made inappropriate and unprofessional comments of a sexual nature to a number of female colleagues and patients causing concern and distress.

“This behaviour does not meet with the standards required of a doctor.

“It risks bringing the profession into disrepute and it must not be repeated.

“We are of the opinion that doctors must be sensitive to the effect that their communications have on both patients and colleagues.”

During the disciplinary process Dr Ashworth was barred for an 18 month period from being alone with female patients.

According to the restrictions imposed; “Except in life threatening emergencies, Dr Ashworth must not undertake consultations with or examinations of females without a chaperone.

“The chaperone must be a fully registered medical practitioner or fully registered nurse or midwife.

“He must maintain a log detailing every case where he has undertaken such a consultation or examination.”

The panel also found the Dr Ashworth’s comments amounted to a “significant breach” of the guidelines, in particular in making sure boundaries were maintained with patients.

However, it cleared him to resume his medical career without restrictions.

During the hearing Dr Ashworth, who served as a surgeon lieutenant on HMS Herald during the Falklands conflict, declined to cross examine those who had made the allegations against him.

He also admitted he’d reviewed his “communication techniques and taken a course in communication skills”.

Dr Ashworth previously worked for the Scottish Prison Service, but quit in controversial circumstances amid claims he was prevented from providing appropriate care to inmates.

He said there had been a “lack of management support” while at Perth Prison between February 1999 and June 2000.

He highlighted the treatment of remand prisoner Andrew Scott who hanged himself in his cell while the Scotland v. England Euro 2000 play-off match was on television.

The 21-year-old was a schizophrenic on medication that he should have been receiving daily, but had been given a weekend’s supply before taking his own life.

Dr Ashworth told an employment tribunal: “I told the governor the actions and omissions of the SPS would ultimately lead to the deaths of prisoners and that this amounted to institutionalised abuse.”

The GMC’s formal warning will remain on Dr Ashworth’s record for five years and can be disclosed to employers indefinitely.

The physician declined to comment on the case.