Isle of Man GP Damian Smith admits indecent web cam sex act
An Isle of Man GP has admitted to a disciplinary hearing he "committed an explicit sex act" at his Peel surgery.
Dr Damian Smith told a Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) hearing he masturbated in front of a web cam in a consultation room.
The former Peel Group partner also admitted making a file of the recording and sending it to a third party.
He was arrested in January 2011 but was later released without charge, the Manchester hearing was told.
Elizabeth Dudley-Jones, counsel for the General Medical Council (GMC), said police discovered the file on Dr Smith's personal laptop after practice bosses raised concerns on New Year's Eve 2010.
She added: "It is the GMC's case that Dr Smith's behaviour was indecent, inappropriate and his conduct was likely to bring the medical profession into disrepute."
The panel was told Dr Smith later sent a letter of apology to the practice partners in which he said he was "shamefully sorry" and that his actions were "utterly stupid".
He wrote that the incident "could easily have been avoided" had he not taken his laptop into work.
In a letter to the GMC, the practice's senior partner Malcom Guild said Dr Smith's clinical competence had never been called into question and there was no history of improper behaviour involving patients.
At the time of Dr Smith's arrest, the Isle of Man department of Health said: "The Peel Group practice would like to announce with immediate effect that Dr Damian Smith is no longer a partner with the practice.
"We apologise for any inconvenience caused by this change but would like to reassure all his patients that they are registered at the Peel surgery and that their health care remains a priority to us."