LOMAX: SEX ON THE FLOOR PSYCHIATRIST GUILTY OF MISCONDUCT

A psychiatrist who had sex with a patient on the floor of his consulting room while a contingent from the local Women’s Institute waited outside has been found guilty of misconduct.

Dr Steven Lomax plied the mother of two with wine while treating her at Guernsey’s Castel Hospital and gave her astrology readings telling  her she was ‘on the edge of something new’.

After confessing to his wife he claimed to have destroyed the patient’s medical records in cover his tracks, the General Medical Council heard.

But he continued to see the woman, moving her into a ‘grubby flat’ after she left her husband for him, and the pair eventually went on to live together until 2001.

Afterthey separated she reported him to the GMC.

A misconduct hearing in central London previously found the facts against him proved and have now found him guilty of misconduct.

The GMC has also found his fitness to practice is impaired and could now decide to strike him off the medical register.

Panel chair Mary Clark-Glass said: ‘We are in no doubt that Dr Lomax has persistently acted in a way that caused serious harm to a patient and her family and thereby breached one of the fundamental tenets of  the medical profession.

‘The panel has concluded that this is a clear case where the need to uphold proper professional standards and public confidence in the medical profession would be undermined if a finding of impairment of fitness to practise were not made.’

The woman, referred to only as Ms A, was referred to Dr Lomax in January 1988 and first met with him on February 18.

She was suffering from depression and low self-esteem having been diagnosed with a thyroid condition and undergone abdominal operations and a hysterectomy.

Dr Lomax flirted with her and made dirty jokes during their initial consultations and kissed her after giving her a lift home.

He then invited her to his house while his wife was away and had sex with her in his daughter’s bedroom.

He had sex in his consulting room on at least one occasion and told her that he loved her before confessing to his wife on May 27, after  which he told Ms A he had destroyed her medical notes.

But Dr Lomax continued to see Ms A and the pair moved into a flat together shortly after their affair was uncovered.

He returned to his wife after around five months, but struck up a relationship with Ms A again soon after, the panel was told.

The pair lived together in Cambridgeshire and then in South Wales, where Dr Lomax was a medical director at a private hospital, for around 15 years before separating, it was said.

Ms Clark-Glass added: ‘While recognising this case dates back to 1988, the panel is clear that the relationship, albeit of an on and  off nature, continued over a considerable period of time.

‘These events caused irreparable damage to all members of Ms A’s family.

‘The passage of time can never excuse or ameliorate such a  fundamental breach of trust. It is also significant that Ms A had to  be encouraged, by therapists treating her family in recent years, to 
face up to bringing this matter formally to the attention of the GMC.’

Dr Lomax, who has since retired and now lives in France, is not  attending the hearing.

He admitted he had been in a relationship with Ms A, but denied it  began while she was a patient.

He further denied saying he had destroyed her medical records.

The case continues.