GP avoids being struck off

A family doctor avoided being struck off even though he admitted an affair with the wife of a patient being treated for depression.

Dr Henry Kinch, 47, was found guilty of misconduct by the General Medical Council at a fit-to-practice hearing in Manchester but let off with a formal warning.

Dr Kinch had told the hearing he believed there was no conflict of interest when he counselled the patient known as Mr B who was depressed because of marital problems. Dr Kinch suggested he find more personal self-time to help deal with anxiety but meanwhile was already involved with his wife.

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Mr and Mrs B had been married for 20 years at this time and had two children.

Dr Kinch was practising in the Sidley surgery in Turkey Road at this time where his wife Karen also worked.

He admitted to the hearing panel that he had become involved with Mrs B having got to know her at work. The two had then travelled away to conferences in Europe together and it was when they returned from a weekend in Paris that the truth came out when a suspicious Mr B confronted first his wife at home and then Dr Kinch at the surgery.

The GP told the hearing he had been naive and foolish to book a double room to share with her near the Eiffel Tower.

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He claimed he had not planned a "dirty" weekend and that he had fallen in love with her during what he saw as a sightseeing trip.

The GMC concluded that his credibility had been damaged because the evidence he gave was inconsistent and not believeable but added that this was outweighed by the amount of regret he had shown.

He has been through a period of counselling and is working on rebuilding his marriage as well as spending time with his teenage children.

He was issued with a warning which will be on his work record for the next five years.

Mrs B told the hearing she had broken up with her husband as a result of the affair and had also left her job.