A doctor who embarked on a “cloak and dagger” affair with a patient has been found guilty of misconduct.
Dr Gordon Carter began the relationship with the woman while he worked at Bydand Medical Group in Huntly.
The 52-year-old, who is also the club doctor of Huntly FC, admitted engaging in an emotional and sexual relationship with the woman between January and October last year, but denied specifically “pursuing” it.
Yesterday, the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service found the GP guilty of misconduct, and will now consider if he should be struck off.
Delivering the decision yesterday, chairwoman Sara Fenoughty said: “The panel is satisfied that when you pursued and engaged in an emotional and sexual relationship with Patient A, you knew that she was vulnerable in that she had complex long-term mental health problems, and you knew there were clear psychiatric concerns.”
During the four-day fitness to practice hearing, the panel heard the woman – Patient A – sent Dr Carter a Christmas card in December 2013, and when she did not get one back she raised the matter with him during an appointment on Hogmanay.
On New Years’ Day, Dr Carter sent the woman a message welcoming in 2014, and signed off with the phrase “your favourite doctor”.
Giving evidence, he insisted he had not ended the text that way, but admitted that when he had looked back on the messages a day later he realised they had become personal and he had “crossed the boundary”.
Despite insisting they cool things, the relationship intensified in January last year, and the pair began meeting for lunch and walks away from Huntly. The hearing also heard he also suggested she get the train to his house in Insch one weekend, where they first had sex.
Dr Carter told the panel he loved the woman, and it had seemed – at the time – like the “most natural thing”.
However, the relationship – which became common knowledge in Huntly – ended in October when Patient A heard rumours he had been seen with another woman.
Dr Carter was reported to the General Medical Council after a complaint was made by Patient A’s former psychologist.
Miss Fenoughty told Dr Carter yesterday: “You and Patient A initially had reasons for keeping your relationship low key to avoid attracting unwanted attention locally. However, the panel did not accept your assertion that this was the only reason.
“Patient A acknowledged she was interested in a romantic relationship, but said that she felt she was receiving mixed messages. She said that you stated repeatedly that boundaries should be observed but that you did not observe them, behaving flirtatiously.”