Osteopath suspended after 'sexual noises' from office continuing work

Osteopath who was suspended after colleagues heard ‘sexual noises’ in his consultation room is continuing to work as a ‘senior practitioner’ at his parents’ practice

  • Tari Macdonald has worked at Silver Grey Clinic – his parents’ – for near 30 years 
  • He was suspended after his colleagues reported ‘sexual noises’ from his office 
  • However, despite being banned until Feb 2021, he is still working at the clinic 

Tari Macdonald, a musculoskeletal specialist from Buxted, East Sussex has worked at the Silver Grey Clinic in East Grinstead, West Sussex for almost 30 years

An osteopath who was suspended after colleagues overheard him having sex with a patient is continuing to work at the practice, owned by his parents.

Tari Macdonald, a musculoskeletal specialist from Buxted, East Sussex has worked at the Silver Grey Clinic in East Grinstead, West Sussex for almost 30 years, carrying out osteopathy, podiatry, acupuncture and massage.

But, following an investigation into claims by his colleagues that ‘sexual noises’ were heard coming from his consultation room, he was found guilty of unacceptable professional conduct and given an 18-month suspension.

Despite his ban – which runs until the end of February 2021 – Macdonald is still working at the Silver Grey Clinic as a ‘senior practitioner’.

In a statement the clinic said: ‘This finding does not prohibit Tari Macdonald from other practice, including acupuncture, massage, spinal and cranial treatments and foot health, so anyone could book an appointment with him for a wide variety of treatments.’

A spokesman said any patient asking for an osteopathy appointment would be directed to Scott Macdonald, another registered practitioner.

‘The findings of the General Osteopathic Council were enacted upon Tari Macdonald and not the clinic itself. The clinic itself has been there since 1977, and is a well-respected and popular practice.

Despite his ban – which runs until the end of February 2021 – Macdonald is still working at the Silver Grey Clinic as a ‘senior practitioner’

‘We would also like to add that Tari Macdonald maintains his innocence following the report, and that the report made mention of ‘the glowing testimonials provided for him by a wide range of patients and relatives of patients, which speak to his professional competence and good character’.’

Macdonald’s 18-month suspension followed an investigation into allegations from autumn 2017.

The General Osteopathic Council’s professional conduct committee found he was guilty of ‘a transgression of professional and sexual boundaries’ and an ‘abuse of his professional position’ in the clinic.

On two occasions complaints were made of sexual noises coming from Macdonald’s room.

Outlining the first, the committee’s report said: ‘On November 27, 2017, [the witness] claimed to have heard a woman make a noise at approximately 2.45pm when she was in her room, which made her initially think that someone had been injured.

‘She said she left her room to investigate. She realised that the noise was coming from the Registrant’s room. As she came close to the door, she could hear a woman panting. The panting and gasping kept increasing and was continuous without stopping for several minutes. It ended with an audible crescendo.’

Little over a week later, on December 5, two witnesses heard ‘panting and gasping’ coming from Macdonald’s room, while he was seeing the same patient.

On two occasions complaints were made of sexual noises coming from Macdonald’s office at the clinic

When later confronted about the noise, Macdonald brushed off the suggestion of sexual activity, telling one of his peers the woman was ‘sobbing in distress’ due to a trial separation.

Asked to clarify Macdonald’s status, Hannah Smith, the regulation manager at the General Osteopathic Council, said: ‘Mr Macdonald is currently suspended from the register of osteopaths following a finding by the Professional Conduct Committee that he is guilty of unacceptable professional conduct.

‘For the period of his suspension, Mr Macdonald is not able to call himself an osteopath or imply that he is an osteopath. 

‘This is because Section 32(1) of the Osteopaths Act 1993 makes it a criminal offence for anyone not registered with the General Osteopathic Council to describe themselves as an osteopath either expressly or by implication.’

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