Psychiatrist struck off after sex with patient

Jun 20 2010 by Coreena Ford, Sunday Sun

Patient A, now 34, said: “I adored Graham. He always listened to me very carefully.

“At that time I thought I was too ugly to leave the house. I was ashamed and humiliated, I didn’t want to see anybody - I thought everybody was judging me.

“I wasn’t a typical 23-year-old, because of my isolation I was quite young and very much looking for a father figure. In Graham, I saw someone who could fulfil that role. I was just thrilled by that.

“Now I think the relationship kept me depressed and dependant and isolated for much longer than I would have been if I’d had a psychiatrist that didn’t do that.

“I feel like I lost years because of him, but at the same time I loved him and I wanted to be with him. Obviously now I realise he had taken advantage of that, and I feel exploited and used, and I hate him.”

The shrink admitted giving her driving lessons, meeting her for lunch and even visiting her at her home, and he admitted to carrying on a “personal” relationship with her after quitting Australia.

But he denied having sex with her, claiming he was impotent – a claim the panel dismissed.

In a damning case conclusion, the GMC panel said: “You continue to deny that you had a sexual relationship with her.

“You clearly abused your position and power as a doctor.

“The Panel takes the view that the seriousness of your misconduct was aggravated by the fact that Patient A was vulnerable because she was young, socially isolated and mentally ill.

“In the light of your limited insight and your continued denial, the Panel is of the view that you still constitute a risk to patients.

“Your serious misconduct is fundamentally incompatible with being a registered medical practitioner.”