A bowel surgeon has defended his 'moment of madness' after writing a love letter to one of his female patients in which he invited her for afternoon tea, a tribunal heard.
The Daily Mail reported that Dr Sachiendra Amaragiri, 59, allegedly said the woman had a 'power' over him and induced 'unusually extraordinary tender feelings' in his 'emotional setting'.
The married consultant is said to have posted the letter to the patient, who he was treating for a stomach complaint, five weeks after performing a colonoscopy on her at a hospital.
But his alleged approach left the woman feeling 'violated' and 'panicked' when she realised the surgeon had acquired details of her home address, a tribunal was told.
Amaragiri, who is believed to have two daughters, has since claimed the letter was a 'moment of madness' that had been 'interpreted cheaply', adding: 'I was never physically attracted to her.'
The patient complained to police but after an investigation it was decided that no criminal offences had been committed.
The woman, who suffers from an anxiety and depression, then took her case to the General Medical Council and the complaint is being heard at a tribunal.
The hearing continues.
