Location: NW/London
Final determination: 17 October 2025
BPC case reference: COM17-24
Registrant: Malcolm Rushton
Sanction: Withdrawal of Registration
Institution: Society for Analytical Psychology (SAP) https://www.thesap.org.uk/events/meeting-borderland-patients-in-their-inner-void/
Source: BPC Final Determination
https://www.bpc.org.uk/download/16030/COM17-24-Final-Determination-Stages-1-and-2-171025.pdf
Case Summary
Malcolm Rushton was found to have engaged in serious sexual misconduct within the therapeutic relationship, involving abuse of power imbalance.
Risk Findings
The determination records:
- a vulnerable patient
- abuse of professional authority
- serious boundary violations
- a real risk of repetition
- ongoing clinical practice during the investigation period
BPC Outcome
Withdrawal of Registration
This reflects a finding that continued practice posed a risk to patients.
Wider Public Protection Question
The BPC’s procedures allow for escalation to police and safeguarding bodies where risk or harm is identified.
The determination records serious misconduct and ongoing risk.
The key question is:
What safeguarding or escalation steps were taken while the registrant remained in practice during active jurisdiction?
Determination Gap
The determination does not clearly evidence:
- police referral
- safeguarding referral
- structured escalation during investigation
Cross-Case Context
- In French (COM11-24), similar findings led to removal from the register, but again without clear evidence of safeguarding escalation.
- In West (COM04-22), boundary breaches were found but the practitioner remained in practice, again without evidenced wider safeguarding response.
Systemic Significance
Rushton highlights the same systemic issue:
Serious misconduct is identified, but wider safeguarding action is not evidenced alongside the disciplinary outcome.