A GP caught having sex with a receptionist in his consulting room brought the medical profession into disrepute, a watchdog has found.
Misconduct allegations against Dr Huw Evans, 53, were this week upheld by the General Medical Council (GMC), after the doctor admitted having sex with the woman on a couch at the Beacon Health Centre,at St Mary's Hospital.
He was cleared of an allegation he abused his position, following a week-long hearing.
Dr Evans and the receptionist, referred to only as Miss A, were caught when the centre manager walked in on them.
Both were suspended by the Isle of Wight NHS Primary Care Trust following the incident in May 2010 and were subsequently dismissed.
Dr Evans was referred to the GMC when it emerged Miss A was his former patient.
A GMC fitness to practise hearing in Manchester this week found Dr Evans' behaviour was 'wholly inappropriate,' but said he had not abused his professional position.
It was accepted he had only seen Miss A as a patient on two occasions, in December 2009 and March 2010, and there was insufficient evidence to suggest their liaison arose from a doctor-patient relationship.
Dr Evans, who was not present at the hearing, told the panel it was the first time he and the woman had sex, describing it as 'an insane and entirely consensual act,' and said he was 'kicking himself' for not locking the door.
Panel chairman Dr William Coppola said: "Throughout its deliberations, the panel has exercised its professional judgement. It has had particular regard to the public interest and its duty to protect patients, to maintain public confidence in the profession, and to declare and uphold proper standards of conduct and behaviour.
"The panel has determined Dr Evans’ fitness to practise is impaired by his misconduct, which has brought the profession into disrepute.
"In relation to Dr Evans’ inappropriate conduct in engaging in sexual intercourse with Miss A while on duty and in an unlocked consulting room, the panel notes Dr Evans was engaged to care for patients rather than indulge in personal sexual gratification."
It was also found Dr Evans had lied to his supervisor about his financial circumstances, by claiming he had applied for bankruptcy when he had not, and that his behaviour was inappropriate but not dishonest.
Several conditions were imposed by the panel, including that he must notify the GMC when he finds a new job, provide the GMC with his employer's contact details, inform the GMC of any disciplinary proceedings taken against him and agree to supervision. Dr Evans must notify any future employer of the conditions, which will remain in place for two years.
It is not the first time conditions have been imposed on Dr Evans by the GMC.
He has been supervised at certain times for the past ten years, after the findings of a previous investigation involving his drinking and another relationship issue.
The following employment conditions were imposed:
1. He must notify the GMC promptly of any post he accepts for which registration with the GMC is required and provide the GMC with the contact details of his employer and the PCT, on whose Medical Performers List he is included, or the local health board/health and social care board if employed in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
2. At any time that he is providing medical services, which require him to be registered with the GMC, he must agree to the appointment of a workplace reporter nominated by his employer, or contracting body, and approved by the GMC.
3. He must allow the GMC to exchange information with his employer or any contracting body for which he provides medical services.
4. He must inform the GMC of any formal disciplinary proceedings taken against him, from the date of this determination.
5. He must inform the GMC if he applies for medical employment outside the UK.
6. He must obtain the approval of his medical supervisor before accepting any post for which registration with the GMC is required.
7. He must keep his professional commitments under review and limit his medical practice in accordance with his medical supervisor’s advice.
8. He must cease work immediately if his medical supervisor advises him to do so.
9. He must inform the following parties that his registration is subject to the conditions, listed at (1) to (8), above:
a. Any organisation or person employing or contracting with him to undertake medical work
b. Any locum agency or out-of-hours service he is registered with or applies to be registered with (at the time of application)
c. In the case of locum appointments, his immediate line manager at his place of work (at least 24 hours before starting work)
d. Any prospective employer or contracting body (at the time of application).
e. The PCT in whose Medical Performers List he is included, or seeking inclusion (at the time of application), or the local Health Board/Health & Social Care Board if employed in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.