George Osborne's brother Adam 'sees himself as victim' in misconduct hearing over affair with vulnerable patient
A disciplinary hearing has heard how Dr Adam Osborne 'threatened' his patient, who had had a series of mental health problems
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The psychiatrist brother of Chancellor George Osborne "sees himself as the victim" following an affair with a vulnerable patient, a disciplinary panel has heard.
Dr Adam Osborne, 39, allegedly threatened his "high-risk" patient, warning her not to expose their two-year affair - saying it would "destroy" his family.
The doctor, who is five years younger than the Chancellor, was not present at a misconduct hearing at the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service on Tuesday but has admitted having an "inappropriate" relationship with the woman - referred to as Patient A.
He asked her to drop her complaint after she tried to kill herself after he ended the relationship in February 2015, the panel was told.
He had been treating the woman at a private clinic in London for depression, anxiety and chronic fatigue before he embarked on the affair. She also has a history of substance abuse and self-harm.
Emails between the married doctor and his patient were read out at the tribunal.
In one, Dr Osborne said: "We don't seem to be able to live with one another and it's destroying both of us and destroying any relationship that we once had."
Patient A responded saying she was "confused" and that he seemed to suggest he was "breaking it off".
She said: "Just please tell me the truth the way it is. I'm very much balancing on the edge and it's so easy for me to tip over just now."
Two days later she was admitted to hospital after taking an overdose - shortly after she had told Dr Osborne’s supervisor Dr Neil Boast about the relationship.
Following complaints to the General Medical Council (GMC), Dr Osborne sent a "number of inappropriate emails" to Patient A in the weeks after her overdose requesting she withdraw her complaint.
He increasingly became "more imploring" and was described as "highly manipulative"; preying on the women’s vulnerabilities and claiming that she seduced him.
Representing the GMC, Bernadette Baxter said: "Patient A said on a number of occasions she wanted him to stop contacting her.
"He sees himself very much as a victim. Then there are emails where the mood very much changed and spills into the territory where he makes threats towards Patient A, consequences to her family and in fact, the patient seduced him."
Representing Dr Osborne, Julian Woodbridge said he did admit having an inappropriate relationship and sending the emails "in a moment of panic" and has apologised for his conduct.
Dr Osborne resigned from the private Elitemed Ltd clinic he ran with his wife Dr Rahala Noor last year when the allegations came to light.
The tribunal will decide whether Dr Osborne’s fitness to practise is impaired and he could be struck off the medical register.
Dr Osborne was also disciplined in 2010 for prescribing contraceptives to Dr Noor and anti-psychotic drugs to a cocaine-addicted prostitute with whom he had a relationship and had installed in a £795-a-month rent flat reportedly so he could have “sex on tap”.
The tribunal continues.
Additional reporting by PA
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