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Doctor back at work despite 'breach of trust'
By Stephanie Jones-BerrySeptember 27, 2011
A GUILDFORD doctor who was suspended from medical practice for misconduct last year will be allowed to practise from next month following a case review by the General Medical Council.
Last year, the GMC found that between 1995 and 2003, Stephen Carr-Bains entered into sexual relationships with two of his patients - both of whom were vulnerable and suffering from mental health problems.
Dr Carr-Bains, who worked for the Guildowns Group Practice at the University of Surrey, got one of his patients pregnant and then helped her to arrange a termination.
Following the abortion, the doctor did not put a letter from the British Pregnancy Advisory Service into the woman's records, failed to make any record of the abortion and did not refer her for post-termination counselling.
Several years later, in 2005 and 2006, the doctor pressurised the woman not to reveal her relationship with him to her counsellor.
The second relationship began in June 2003 and the panel heard evidence from the woman, who said that Dr Carr-Bains had stayed with her in her university accommodation at the time.
In a judgement of his fitness to practise, Dr Carr-Bains was told: "In your evidence you stated that you have come to recognise that you have been deflecting the blame for your past behaviour onto others.
"You told the panel that you have been able to grasp the fact that your conduct was misguided and are now able to accept full responsibility for your mistakes."
The panel concluded that Dr Carr-Bains' suspension should expire on October 8, but the same report also disclosed that GMC member Stephen Brassington thought Dr Carr-Bains' fitness to practise remained impaired and aspects of his evidence were of concern - suggesting there was a likelihood of repetition.
"Mr Brassington said that the misconduct was very difficult, if not impossible, to remediate over such a short time, particularly in view of [his] personality traits."
Summing up however, the panel decided the doctor had shown contrition, been "honest and frank" with his evidence, had good support mechanisms in place and said it was encouraged by the fact there were professionals aware of his past who were keen to re-employ him.
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