The Green Party has defended the selection of Dr. Richard Dean, a GP who accessed a patient’s records to ask her out for a “pub lunch,” as a candidate for Gloucestershire County Council.
Dr. Dean received a formal warning from a medical practitioners' tribunal in 2018, which concluded that his fitness was not impaired. The candidate, who worked as a locum GP at the Avenue Surgery in Cirencester at the time, obtained the patient’s contact details from her medical records and contacted her on his mobile phone to propose the lunch meeting.
Despite the incident, the Green Party stated that Dr. Dean disclosed the tribunal outcome to them. They emphasized that the doctor was involved in refugee assistance in Bristol at the time and had contacted the patient to discuss potential aid for female African refugees after their consultation. The senior partner at the practice reported the contact to the General Medical Council, leading to the tribunal. Dr. Dean acknowledged the breach of professional boundaries and underwent further training on the matter.
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Adrian Oldman, Stroud District Green Party coordinator, expressed confidence in Dr. Dean’s kindness, compassion, and commitment to the local community, highlighting his positive reception during the election campaign.
The full list of Gloucestershire County Council election candidates, including those running for the Dursley division, can be found on the official election website.