Osteopath is struck off after having a sexual relationship with a patient

The General Osteopathic Council - the UK regulator for osteopaths - has removed Martyn Langton, from Crawley, from its register after finding him guilty of unacceptable professional conduct.

In a statement, the council said that ‘in a serious breach of professional standards and patient trust, it was found that Mr Langton had entered into a sexual relationship with a patient, and in the full knowledge that the patient was vulnerable over and above the implicit vulnerability of a patient.’

In deciding the appropriate sanction, the Professional Conduct Committee, chaired by Mr Andy Skelton, found that “the only means of protecting the public and maintaining public confidence in the profession, in this instance, is by way of removal.”

The council said that in reaching this decision the committee considered that ‘Mr Langton’s failings, coupled with his attitudinal issues, insufficient insight, remorse and remediation were such that they are fundamentally incompatible with him remaining on the register.’

Mr Langton is now unable to practise as an osteopath.

He has 28 days to appeal against his removal from the register, during which time Mr Langton is suspended from the statutory Register of osteopaths with immediate effect.