A Christian former GP in Lancashire could be struck off the medical register after admitting inappropriately touching a patient during an appointment.
Matthew Gale, 57 and from Living Waters Pentecostal Church in Chorley, has apologised for fondling the unnamed patient in 2013.
The patient was suffering from back pain and Matthew Gale, a married father, suggested a back massage - something he wasn't trained to administer.
According to his current Medical Practitioner's Tribunal (MPT), Mr Gale said at the time: "Do you think you could forgive me for what I just did and want I wanted to do?"
He then began touching the married woman inappropriately. She protested and left the surgery before reporting the crime the following year, having moved away from the area.
Police gave Mr Gale a caution.
The former GP told his MPT that his actions were "wholly wrong" and "completely defenceless".
He retired early from practice after the incident after 28 years at Chorley Health Centre (above).
The MPT, which is deciding whether to remove Mr Gale from the medical register, continues.
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Article by Aaron James
Tola Mbakwe is a multimedia journalist for Premier.
