Osteopath Suspended for Affair with Married Patient
An osteopath has been suspended from practice for three months after engaging in an affair with a married patient. The professional boundaries were breached over a period of nine months, culminating in disciplinary action by the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC). The situation came to light when the patient’s wife, who was also a patient at the same clinic, discovered the affair and alerted the clinic’s management.
The osteopath, Rachel Say, began treating the patient for back pain in May 2024. During their sessions at Derby Cottage Clinic in Newmarket, Suffolk, a personal relationship developed between Ms. Say and the patient. This burgeoning connection became apparent when the patient presented Ms. Say with a Valentine’s Day card, concealed within a bag of American snacks, in early 2024. This gesture left Ms. Say with what she described as “conflicting feelings” towards her patient.
Recognising the unprofessional nature of her evolving feelings, Ms. Say made the decision to cease treatment of the patient on February 14th, advising him to seek care from another practitioner. However, just two days later, Ms. Say initiated contact with the patient, requesting assistance with electrical work at her home. This request, coupled with the patient’s subsequent deception about his whereabouts to his wife, raised significant suspicions.
The patient eventually confessed to his wife that he was seeing Ms. Say, an American mother-of-one. The extent of their relationship was revealed when the patient admitted to spending the day with Ms. Say and confessed that they had kissed. Despite his wife’s distress, the patient reportedly visited Ms. Say’s home again the following day.
The discovery of the affair led the patient’s wife to demand a divorce and inform her husband’s mother. This revelation caused confusion for Ms. Say, as the patient had allegedly assured her that his wife was aware of and supportive of their situation. The aggrieved wife then proceeded directly to the clinic, where she was also a patient, and reported the affair to Ms. Say’s employer.
Ms. Say attributed her actions to “burnout” and a period of not returning to the United States for five years. Nevertheless, her employer suspended her and referred the matter to a GOsC tribunal. The tribunal, held in London, concluded that Ms. Say had “ignored red flags” and acted with dishonest and sexually motivated intent, thereby breaching professional and sexual boundaries. Consequently, her licence to practice was suspended for three months, effective from January 29th.
Interestingly, the patient provided testimony to the tribunal suggesting that Ms. Say had maintained a professional demeanour and had not initiated any inappropriate contact. He stated that it was he who had led her to believe his marital relationship was over, and that she had been misled.
The communication between Ms. Say and the patient had reportedly been sporadic via text messages during the Christmas period of 2024, after they had exchanged phone numbers. The patient’s request for American snacks, specifically “Goldfish” crisps, was made after the festive break. Following this, the patient sent a text message to Ms. Say expressing hope that he had not “overstepped the mark” and valued their friendship. He further elaborated on his feelings, stating: “You are an amazing listener, mom, friend and someone I want to be around for sure. I’m just following my gut and if you don’t feel the same that is completely fine and I absolutely get it.”
Ms. Say is required to attend a review hearing at the conclusion of her three-month suspension before she will be permitted to resume her osteopathic practice. This case underscores the critical importance of maintaining professional boundaries and the serious consequences of their violation within the healthcare profession.
