Psychiatrist admits sexual affair with patient…after her death

January 27, 2014

A PSYCHIATRIST denied an affair with a vulnerable patient only to admit to it after her death, a tribunal has heard.

Dr Andrew McBride was twice investigated over the “intimate and sexual” 2003 to 2010 affair, it heard.

But the addiction specialist later admitted the affair through solicitors, Hugh Davies for the General Medical Council (GMC) told the tribunal.

He said Dr McBride – later sacked over the affair – met the un-named “vulnerable” woman in 2003 when she was 48, at Oxford’s Rectory Centre. She had a history of drug and alcohol abuse, depression and “emotionally unstable personality disorder” he said.

She made a complaint about him in 2004 and – despite withdrawing allegations the next day – sparked an investigation which found “no evidence of professional misconduct” but limited Dr McBride’s contact with her.

Dr McBride stopped treating the woman in 2005 but continued to prescribe sedative diazepam until her death, it is alleged.

After her death he admitted wrongdoing but said she “pursued” him, adding: “She must have caught me in a very vulnerable place.”

He is accused of having a sexual relationship with a vulnerable patient, prescribing more than standard doses of medication and not keeping medical records of contact with her.

He has not attended or made admissions to the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service hearing in Manchester, which started on Wednesday.

It also alleged he prescribed painkiller pethidine to another woman, failed to take steps to manage risk posed by a violent man to staff and giving a drug against advice to another and failing to record their alcohol use.

Oxford Health NHS Trust said Dr McBride worked for the specialist community addiction service from 2002 to 2011, when it suspended him after it said it received “clear information” of a relationship.

A spokesman said: “As a consequence of the investigation Dr McBride was dismissed by the trust and the matter was referred to the GMC.”

The hearing continues.

Source:  “Psychiatrist had affair with vulnerable patient,” Oxford Mail, January 25, 2014.