Harley Street doctor, 40, faces being struck off over ‘relationship with patient’

Dr Natalia Bogatcheva leaving her tribunal hearing in Manchester

A Harley Street doctor faces being struck off for dating a patient from her private practice and falling pregnant with his child.

Dr Natalia Bogatcheva allegedly met the property developer at work-organised soirées and the pair later had a son, moved in together and got engaged.

The 40-year-old doctor was caught accessing her boyfriend’s medical records after she became suspicious of his ex-girlfriend moving into one of his apartments. 

Dr Cristiana Romete, managing director at the Roc Clinic in London, discovered the 5am checks and raised concerns about ‘analysis of electoral records.’ 

Bogatcheva, who went to the £54,000-a-year Bellerbys Independent School in London, referred herself to the General Medical Council on the advice of NHS England.

She is accused of having an ‘improper emotional relationship’ with her fiancé, referred to only as Patient A. 

The doctor, who is due to marry the man later this year, has denied the allegations at the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service in Manchester.  

Bogatcheva admits getting into a relationship with Patient A, but denied it happened during the time he was her patient. She could be struck off if found guilty. 

Dr Natalia Bogatcheva allegedly met the property developer, who was a patient at the Roc Clinic in London (pictured), and the pair later had a son, moved in together and got engaged

Dr Natalia Bogatcheva allegedly met the property developer, who was a patient at the Roc Clinic in London (pictured), and the pair later had a son, moved in together and got engaged

Dr Bogatcheva, who qualified at the Royal Free Hospital School Of Medicine in London, worked as a general clinician at The Roc Clinic. 

The trial heard how the couple met in 2016 after the man became a patient of Dr Romete six years earlier. 

He and Dr Bogatcheva had various medical consultations between February 25 and May 19, 2016 after Dr Romete temporarily left the practice.

Patient A told the hearing Dr Romete was his parents’ doctor, and described her as a ‘friend’ who invited him to soirées.

He said he was ‘a martial arts expert, avid skier and horse rider’ and went to the doctors ‘to make sure nothing was wrong.’

He added: ‘On 19th May I had a missed call from the practice who mistakenly believed I called them to arrange an appointment. I called Natalia back as I had her number.

‘We confirmed that nothing was amiss. I went away to France to visit my daughter then I came back at the end of June and I sent her a text message and asked if she would like to go out.  

‘I accept that a doctor and patient cannot see each other but in my opinion, I had not seen her as a patient for some considerable time, I was not at that practice anymore so I didn’t see any harm in changing the tone of conversation.

‘She never gave me encouragement to ask her out. We went out for coffee round the corner from her practice. Dr Romete then asked if I would like to attend a concert.

‘We then had dinner and I called Natalie the following day with the purpose of courting. This then led to our son being born, buying our house and getting married. I believe Dr Romete knew about me meeting Natalia for coffee.’

Patient A said he and Dr Bogatcheva went on holiday to Sicily together in September 2016.  

‘Dr Romete called whilst we were there and wanted advice about leasing a property.  We had an argument over a friend of mine who was staying at one of my properties.

‘Natalia had my best interests at heart. My friend needed a place to stay so I offered her one of my properties, she probably did overstay and was taking advantage of it.

‘Natalia called me out on it, and she was quite right. I’m aware she accessed my medical records. I called up the next morning and asked Dr Romete if she could get me an appointment with Natalia as she wasn’t answering my calls or texts. 

‘I don’t think it was inappropriate for her to be looking at my medical records, it’s an attachment thing, or a reminder. There was no issue. When Natalia became pregnant with my son, it was the most fantastic thing that could have happened to me. 

‘Since then my relationship with Natalie has flourished, my life has flourished and my work life has been getting better and better. I didn’t feel trapped by it, I was accepting of it. 

‘We are going to get married this year and I plan to remain together until I die.’

Dr Bogatcheva admits getting into a relationship with Patient A, but denied it happened during the time he was her patient

Dr Bogatcheva admits getting into a relationship with Patient A, but denied it happened during the time he was her patient

Lawyer for the General Medical Council Emma Gilsenan told the hearing Dr Bogatcheva started an inappropriate relationship with Patient A six weeks after her last consultation with him in May 2016.

She added: ‘Less than three months after her last consultation with patient A, she accessed Patient A’s medical records inappropriately on three separate occasions.

‘At the time the doctor was engaged in a sexual relationship which allegedly began in August 2016.

‘On one of the days where the records were accessed, this occurred at 5.25am. The evidence of Dr Bogatcheva accessing Patient A’s medical records was the same day as the alleged disagreement between Dr Bogatcheva and Patient A regarding his ex partner.’

Dr Bogatcheva, from Crouch End in north London, denies misconduct. The hearing continues.

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