Sleep expert handed year ban for sex with married insomniac

A SLEEP disorder specialist who admitted having sex with an insomnia sufferer at his surgery has been suspended for 12 months.

Ewan Crawford, 53, embarked on a five-year relationship with the "vulnerable" woman, despite knowing she suffered physical and psychological problems.

He also treated the patient's husband and two sons at Murrayfield Medical Centre in Edinburgh during the affair, the General Medical Council disciplinary hearing was told.

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The panel, sitting in Manchester, ruled that Dr Crawford's fitness to practice was impaired because of his misconduct.

The GP first had sex with the woman, referred to as Patient A, in 2001 while she was registered at the practice as his patient.

He admitted he engaged in sexual activity with her at his medical centre in September 2005, and their sexual relationship ended a year later.

The doctor, whose full name is Christopher Ewan Hamish Crawford, neglected to inform his colleagues about the affair, the panel heard.

His behaviour was "inappropriate and irresponsible" and breached his patients' trust, the panel ruled.

"You breached the boundaries that a doctor must maintain with their patient and undermined the trust that the public are entitled to place in the medical profession," the panel said.

He had known the woman for 17 years, having worked with her in the early 1980s.

Their affair began after a chance meeting at a social event unconnected with his medical practice and this was a mitigating factor, the panel said.

Nearly 100 written testimonials in support of the doctor were submitted from doctors, other professional colleagues and patients.

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