A Christian GP who discussed his faith with a patient is facing disciplinary action and could even lose his job.

Dr Richard Scott, one of six Christian partners at Bethesda medical centre in Kent, says he has discussed his faith with patients “thousands of times”.

But the General Medical Council claims that by talking about Christianity Dr Scott distressed one of his patients, and risked bringing the medical profession into disrepute.

Unblemished

Dr Scott, a family GP with an unblemished record, saw a 24-year-old patient at the request of the patient’s mother last year.

The father of three insists that he only discussed how his faith in Jesus had helped him as part of a “consensual discussion between two adults” towards the end of a thorough consultation.

But the patient’s mother, who was not present for the consultation, accused Dr Scott of pushing religion on her adult son.

Permission

Dr Scott, who is being represented by Christian Legal Centre, defended his actions, saying: “I only discussed mutual faith after obtaining the patient’s permission. In our conversation, I said that personally, I had found having faith in Jesus helped me and could help the patient.

“At no time did the patient indicate that they were offended, or that they wanted to stop the discussion. If that had been the case, I would have immediately ended the conversation.”

Dr Scott is preparing to appeal against the censure, despite the fact that he has been warned that this could lead to him being struck off.

’Clear implication’

Niall Dickson, chief executive of the GMC, said that doctors shouldn’t impose their beliefs on patients.

He said: “Our guidance is clear. Doctors should not normally discuss their personal beliefs with patients unless those beliefs are directly relevant to the patient’s care.”

But Dr Peter Saunders, chief executive of the Christian Medical Fellowship, warned that the “clear implication” of the GMC guidelines was that a doctor should be able to express their beliefs in an “appropriate and sensitive” way.

Cross

In December 2008 Caroline Petrie, a Christian nurse in Somerset, was suspended by her NHS employers under ‘equality and diversity’ rules after she offered to pray for a patient.

Mrs Petrie was reinstated the following February.