'Sex with patients' GP struck off

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A Newport doctor who had a child with a patient and an affair with another has been struck off.

Dr Oladapo Idowu was found guilty at a medical tribunal of dishonest and inappropriate behaviour and of abusing his professional position.

The decision was made by the General Medical Council (GMC) Fitness to Practise Panel in Manchester.

Dr Idowu had denied misconduct but the panel said it viewed his abuse of position "in the most serious light".

"The panel is seriously concerned about Dr Idowu's failure to maintain appropriate boundaries with patients and about his exploitation of two vulnerable women," the panel said in its ruling.

"The panel is not satisfied the doctor has any insight into his failings and is concerned that there is a significant risk he would repeat this behaviour."

Relationship

During the tribunal, the panel was told how Dr Idowu, who was known as David, began a relationship with the mother of his child in 2003 who was a patient at the St David's Clinic in Newport.

The fitness to practise panel heard that the doctor's relationship with the mother of his child, known as Miss A, had carried on for two years.

After she gave birth, Dr Idowu told her not to name him as the baby's father, it was alleged.

At the same time, he had also begun a second affair with Miss B, who told the hearing she met the doctor towards the end of 2004 on a Friday night in the Revolution bar in Newport.

She told the hearing she told him she was a patient at his surgery, but he laughed it off.

They chatted, swapped mobile numbers and met two days later at her flat, where they had sex.

It is also claimed Dr Idowu then got another person to approach Miss B to try to stop her going to the authorities.

Dr Idowu was suspended in July 2005 and was told he could not work while an investigation was carried out.

But he took another job with an out-of-hours medical service. He claimed he thought he was only suspended from working within the former county of Gwent.

Dr Idowu, who qualified from the University of Ibadan in 1989, was not present at the hearing. The panel was told he was on holiday in Nigeria.