MEDIA
Praveen Thottappilil, Ballarat psychiatrist, pleads guilty
Praveen Thottappilil The Courier Psychiatrist pleads guilty By Hayley Elg December 1, 2021 Wednesday -- Excerpt A court has heard about the "serious offending" of a former Ballarat psychiatrist who sexually assaulted two "vulnerable" clients. Dr Praveen Thottappilil, who ran Australian Mental Health Services - Ballarat on Drummond Street, pleaded guilty to nine offences at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Tuesday. The police prosecutor told the court two women had made complaints about the psychiatrist, who is currently suspended from practice. Both were diagnosed with mental illnesses and Thottappilil saw them regularly for treatment and to prescribe medication... Around early [...]
Nasreen Roberts, Kingston Psychiatrist, pleads guilty
Nasreen Roberts Calgary Herald Child psychiatrist pleads guilty to sexual assault over affair with former patient By Kevin Martin November 18, 2021 -- Excerpt It was a May-October romance, but not the kind found in Harlequin novels or on Hollywood screens. He had just turned 18, having gone to her as a youth for counselling for self-esteem issues. She was a successful and married adolescent psychiatrist in her mid-40s. “It is at the highest level of a breach of trust,” Calgary provincial court Judge John Bascom said Wednesday, after hearing details of Dr. Nasreen Roberts’ sexual relationship with her former [...]
Robert Harden, Texas Psychiatrist, arrested
Dallas Morning News Plano psychiatrist arrested, accused of sexually assaulting adult family member, police said --Excerpt A Plano psychiatrist was arrested last week after accusations he sexually assaulted an adult family member, according to police. Robert James Harden, 69, was arrested without incident around 7 p.m. Thursday on a charge of aggravated sexual assault, police said. He has since bonded out of custody, according to the Collin County Sheriff’s Office. No details were available about when the incident occurred, and police are still investigating. It is unclear whether Harden has an attorney. As of Monday evening, Harden was listed [...]
Psychiatrist Emad Bishai, Texas, pays half million for fraud allegations
Psychiatrist Emad Bishai Press Release Woodlands pain doctor pays half million dollars for fraudulent PPP and billing allegations Monday, November 15, 2021 For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Texas HOUSTON - A 49-year-old local physician has agreed to pay $523,331 to settle allegations he submitted false claims for the placement of electro-acupuncture devices and for making false statements when applying for a loan from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery. Dr. Emad Bishai is an anesthesiologist and pain management physician who practices in The Woodlands. Woodlands Pain Institute PLLC is his [...]
Joan Marcelino, Miami psychistrist, charged with molesting kids
Joan Marcelino Miami Herald Child molester returns to Miami-Dade in cuffs after hiding for a decade, authorities say By Devoun Cetoute October 28, 2021 -- Excerpt Former psychiatrist Dr. Joan Humberto Marcelino was on the run from the law for years after being charged with molesting young boys in Miami-Dade and Lake County. After 10 years and changes to extradition laws, authorities have brought Marcelino back to answer to the charges. Marcelino is charged with molesting four teenage boys from Hialeah in Lake and Miami-Dade counties, an arrest warrant read. Among the charges was one count of lewd and lascivious [...]
Hasan Abu Ghariba, Laqiya Psychiatrist, Indicted
The Times of Israel Psychiatrist indicted for sexual abuse of patient in Beersheba --Excerpt A psychiatrist from the Bedouin town of Laqiya in southern Israel was indicted on Thursday on charges of rape, sodomy and indecent acts against a patient who sought his assistance. The man, Hasan Abu Ghariba, 33, was arrested earlier this month after the young woman in question filed a police complaint about the incident, which allegedly occurred about a year ago. Abu Ghariba had been working at a Beersheba mental health facility until two months ago. On Sunday, the court agreed to a police request [...]
Babak Akbari, Queensland psychiatrist, fired from Mackay Base Hospital
Babak Akbari Brisbane Times Sacked psychiatrist tries to sue Qld hospital after six-page complaint By Toby Crockford May 28, 2021 -- Excerpt A sacked Queensland psychiatrist tried to launch a defamation case against the hospital where junior doctors had written a six-page letter of complaint about him. Dr Babak Akbari was fired from Mackay Base Hospital, on the state’s central coast, in March 2019. He then tried to file a defamation case against the Mackay Hospital and Health Service and Dr Paul Henderson, who had made the decision to terminate Dr Akbari’s employment at the hospital and who referred him [...]
Ashok Bharucha, State College psychiatrist, sentenced
Centre Daily Times State College psychiatrist pleads guilty after sexual misconduct allegations --Excerpt A State College psychiatrist accused of sexual misconduct with a patient was sentenced Monday to two years of probation. Ashok Bharucha, 54, pleaded guilty Monday to one misdemeanor count of simple assault. One felony count of sexual assault and two misdemeanor counts of indecent assault were dropped. Bharucha was accused of performing unwanted oral sex on a patient during a June 2020 appointment at his downtown State College office, borough police wrote in an affidavit of probable cause… Excerpted from: State College psychiatrist pleads guilty after [...]
James Rodney, Brisbane psychiatrist, disciplined over wills – fined
James Rodney The Courier Mail (Australia) Psychiatrist and UQ lecturer Dr James Rodney fined after writing himself into patients’ wills September 19, 2021 -- Excerpt A BRISBANE psychiatrist with "a distinguished career", who became a beneficiary in the wills of an elderly ex-patient and her sister, has been reprimanded for professional misconduct. Dr James Maurice John Rodney was fined $30,000 by a tribunal and ordered to pay $75,000 to the Health Ombudsman, for their costs in bringing disciplinary proceedings against him. Dr Rodney, 72, who has been a psychiatrist for 48 years, is director of a mood disorder unit at [...]
Mansur Butt, Warrington Psychiatrist, found with animal porn on his phone
Mansur Butt Daily Mail NHS psychiatrist, 49, who was found with animal porn on his phone avoids being struck off after GMC accepted he was viewing it to research his patients' 'sexual perversions' -- Excerpt An NHS psychiatrist who watched sickening and illegal pornography featuring animals has been allowed to carry on treating vulnerable patients. Dr Mansur Butt, 49, from Warrington, admitted having bestiality material on his phones but said he only watched it because he was interested in his patients’ perversions and not for his own sexual pleasure. A full GMC ruled that the behaviour of the doctor, who [...]