A doctor who had an affair with a vulnerable patient has been struck off – despite more than 1,000 people and his local MP calling for him to keep his job.
Gordon Carter became involved with the woman while he worked at the Bydand Medical Group in Huntly.
The 52-year-old – who was also club doctor for Huntly FC and a director of the Highland League side – initially told the woman they could not be together but then initiated their first kiss, sparking an eight-month “cloak and dagger” relationship.
When the allegations against him emerged, a huge campaign was mounted in support of the father-of-three and a petition signed by more than 1,000 people calling for him to keep his job was submitted to the General Medical Council.
His local MP also wrote to the watchdog asking for mercy after receiving a string of support letters from constituents.
But yesterday, a disciplinary panel – which last week found the doctor guilty of misconduct – ruled there was no option but to strike him off as he was guilty of a “serious breach of trust”.
Chairwoman of the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service Sara Fenoughty told him he had an “exceptional reputation” and referred to the various testimonials received on his behalf.
She added: “The panel was also referred to a petition of over 1,000 names calling for you to be allowed to continue as a GP.
“You are described as having an exceptional reputation as a general practitioner and you are highly regarded by your patients, and a pillar to the community of Huntly.
“But you breached a number of fundamental tenets of the medical profession. You did not make the care of your patient your first concern, and you breached your patient’s trust in you.”
During a week-long hearing, the panel heard the woman – known as Patient A – had sent Dr Carter a Christmas card in December 2013 but did not receive one back.
She raised the matter with him during an appointment on Hogmanay, and Dr Carter sent her a New Year’s Day message, which he signed off with “your favourite doctor”.
The pair exchanged a series of text messages, but a few days later Dr Carter told the woman they could not continue and suggested she should see another doctor.
However, within weeks the pair had resumed their personal contact and began going on lunch dates and walks away from Huntly – where Dr Carter initiated their first kiss.
Patient A told the hearing: “It was his idea to go for lunch and it was his idea to go out of Huntly so it was less likely people would see us together. We went for lunch then I said, ‘am I going home or what?’.
“We ended up going to the coast and parked the car and were sat talking. He said he didn’t want to have to ask me to do cloak and dagger and it wasn’t fair on me.
“At that point I said ‘I understand, cloak and dagger’ and then out of nowhere he went from the driver’s side to the passenger’s side where I was and he kissed me.
“I was quite surprised, I wasn’t expecting it, and then it was a bit of a fumble in the car. He put his hand down my top.”
Dr Carter, of Insch, told the panel the woman had started seeing another GP in February last year – around the time they slept together for the first time.
The doctor – who admitted the affair but denied pursuing the woman for sex – broke down as he admitted he had loved her more than anyone before.
The couple broke up in October last year. However, the GMC was already investigating after a complaint was lodged by Patient A’s former psychologist.
Miss Fenoughty yesterday told Dr Carter he had tried to “minimise the impact” of his behaviour, despite knowing the extent of the woman’s mental health issues.
She added: “You focused on Patient A’s own part in initiating and maintaining the relationship and said that she was a highly educated adult who could look after herself.
“The panel accepts that you are a very highly regarded doctor and that your colleagues will face difficulties as a consequence of you being unable to continue in practice.”
Dr Carter could not be contacted for comment last night.
A spokeswoman for NHS Grampian said last night: “We note the decision of the panel.”