Doctor 'made advances to patient'

Dr Potter denies charges of indecent behaviour

A prominent Scottish doctor made homosexual advances to a patient and then threatened suicide if the man reported what had happened, the General Medical Council has heard.

Dr Brian Potter, the former Scottish secretary of the British Medical Association, could be struck off if he is found guilty of "indecent and improper behaviour" with the patient.

Dr Potter, who did not attend the disciplinary hearing in central London on Wednesday, has denied the charges.

Dr Potter told him not to make a complaint against him and indicated that he would commit suicide if a complaint was made

Simon Dirollo for the GMC

The GMC's professional conduct committee heard claims that 47-year-old Dr Potter first behaved indecently towards the 39-year-old patient when he visited him at his home in Edinburgh to treat a back injury 10 years ago.

The patient was referred to as Mr D at the hearing but is known to be Mahboob Ditta, who was found guilty at Edinburgh Sheriff Court in December 1999 of trying to extort money from Dr Potter.

Dr Potter telephoned Mr Ditta several days after the home visit and tried to pressure him into keeping silent about the sexual advances, the GMC heard.

Simon Dirollo, for the GMC, said: "In the course of the telephone conversation Dr Potter told him not to make a complaint against him and indicated that he would commit suicide if a complaint was made."

He allegedly made further advances to Mr Ditta on a subsequent visit to Dr Potter's practice in Inverleith.

Dr Brian Potter did not attend the hearing

The hearing was told that Dr Potter left the surgery in 1992.

It is also alleged that he asked Mr Ditta to engage in further sexual activity with him in 1998, when he was no longer a patient at the surgery.

Dr Potter, a divorced father of three, works in the X-ray department of an Edinburgh hospital.

He denies serious professional misconduct and abusing his professional position.

However, he admits that there was some "consensual contact" with the patient.

The committee heard that Mr Ditta is appealing against his conviction for a £30,000 blackmail attempt.