PR Newswire

July 21, 1995, Friday – 21:05 Eastern Time

WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH PSYCHIATRIST LICENSE SUSPENDED FOR SEXUAL RELATIONS WITH PATIENT

SECTION: State and Regional News

LENGTH: 401 words

The Washington state Medical Quality Assurance Commission today indefinitely suspended the license of Dr. James R. McGuire for unprofessional conduct. The commission investigated McGuire after the Alaska Medical Board suspended his license for engaging in a sexual relationship with a patient for more than five years. McGuire is a psychiatrist at McNeil Island Corrections Center.
OLYMPIA, Wash., July 21
The commission’s order also lifts the suspension, allowing McGuire, 46, to continue his job at McNeil Island under restrictive conditions. McGuire is limited to supervised treatment of adult males at McNeil Island and must notify the commission if he leaves his job. He must continue in sex offender treatment therapy and pay a $1,000 fine. Additionally, the commission requires quarterly progress reports from McGuire, his supervisor, and therapist.
The order follows a formal hearing in June at which the state Department of Health argued to revoke McGuire’s license. The commission decided not to revoke the license because “a physician who is making a sincere and committed effort toward rehabilitation by dealing with the personal problems that led to the misconduct should be allowed that opportunity, provided the public is not placed at risk. In this case, sufficient safeguards can be put in place to protect the public, including psychological and treatment reports, careful supervision, and restricted practice setting.”
In his position at McNeil Island, McGuire may not practice psychiatric treatment for individuals or groups. His practice is limited to the diagnosis and approval of patient treatment plans and medications, to be administered by medical staff.
If McGuire violates the restrictions, the commission can immediately impose the full suspension and any other appropriate sanctions.
The Alaska Medical Board found that McGuire had a sexual relationship with one of his patients while treating her for multiple personality disorder from 1986 to 1992. After his license was suspended and reported to the National Practitioner Data Bank, the state’s medical commission investigated McGuire to determine if he should be permitted to practice in Washington.
McGuire has been licensed to practice in Washington since 1976. CONTACT: Media only: Joe Jimenez of the Washington State Department of Health, 360-753-3934