MEDIA
Graham Craig, UK Psychiatrist, struck off after sex with patient
ChronicleLive by Coreena Ford June 20, 2010 A PSYCHIATRIST who had a two-year sex romp with a patient almost four decades younger than him has been struck off the medical register, the Sunday Sun can reveal. Dr Graham Craig was 61 when he had the affair with the 23-year-old woman – known as Patient A – who had been admitted to his clinic for severe depression. It is not the first time Dr Craig, now 72 – whose area of practice is Newcastle – had an “inappropriate relationship” with a patient. He was found guilty of unprofessional conduct [...]
Hollywood psychiatrist Nathan Kuemmerle sentenced in drug case
City News Service Former Psychiatrist Gets Probation in 'Pill Mill' Case By Fred Shuster May 17, 2011 Hollywood psychiatrist Nathan Kuemmerle A former West Hollywood psychiatrist who wrote prescriptions without a legitimate medical purpose to make money to pay for his methamphetamine addiction was sentenced today to three years probation. Dr. Nathan Kuemmerle, 38, of Hollywood, pleaded guilty last January in Los Angeles federal court to a single charge of distribution of a controlled substance, specifically 180 tablets of the anti-anxiety drug Xanax. When charged along with his office manager in April 2010, federal prosecutors called Kuemmerle the No. [...]
Robert Mitrione, Illinois Psychiatrist, sentenced to prison for fraud
The State Journal-Register (Springfield, IL) Psychiatrist, wife get prison time; Couple convicted of fraud in September 2001 By Chris Dettro November 1, 2002 A Springfield psychiatrist and his wife were sentenced to prison terms Thursday night after a nearly eight-hour hearing in a case the government said is being watched closely by the medical community. U.S. District Judge Jeanne Scott sentenced Dr. Robert Mitrione to 23 months in federal prison and his wife/office manager, Marla DeVore, to 15 months. "It was remarkable to hear a defense that 'our records were in disarray,'" Scott said of the complicated health-care fraud case [...]
Chiman Patel, Connecticut Psychiatrist, in trouble again – accused of improper touching
Hartford Courant (Connecticut) DOCTOR ACCUSED OF IMPROPER TOUCHING; By Josh Kovner July 13, 2011 State regulators are considering charges against a Bridgeport psychiatrist who is accused of inappropriately touching a female patient, telling her during a session that they should "get together," and saying on the telephone that he loved her. Chiman Patel, who was disciplined by the Medical Examining Board in a separate matter in 2006, had his license suspended by the board in May on the strength of the recent allegations, which date to October. The board held a hearing on July 1 for Patel, and will issue [...]
Robert Mitrione, Springfield Illinois psychiatrist, found guilty of health-care fraud, conspiracy, mail fraud
The State Journal-Register (Springfield, IL) Professional Regulation to target Mitrione for hearing By Tony Cappasso September 28, 2001 Now that federal prosecutors are done with Dr. Robert Mitrione, the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation has the Springfield psychiatrist in its sights. Professional Regulation announced Thursday that Mitrione will be the subject of a preliminary hearing Dec. 17 on whether his medical license should be suspended or revoked. Mitrione was found guilty of health-care fraud, conspiracy, mail fraud and defrauding an agency of the United States government -specifically, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. Mitrione said Thursday he wasn't sure what [...]
Sam Castellani, Nashville psychiatrist, arrested in sex-for-prescription case
The City Paper (Nashville, Tennessee) Psychiatrist accused in sex-for-presciptions case bound over to grand jury October 8, 2009 A Nashville psychiatrist accused of writing prescriptions for patients in exchange for sexual favors appeared in court Thursday where he waived rights to a preliminary hearing and was bound over to the grand jury. Attorneys for Dr. Settimio "Sam" Castellani, 67, of Brentwood, say their client will plead not guilty in front of the grand jury. Castellani was arrested by Metro Police in June after investigating a patient's claim that the doctor forcibly asked for sexual acts before giving her prescription medication, [...]
Juan Fernandez III, Wisconsin Psychiatrist, sued by patient who was awarded more than $860,000 by a jury
The Washington Times 'Recovered-memory' suit yields large jury award By Cheryl Wetzstein September 04, 1999 Psychiatrist Juan Fernandez III A Wisconsin woman who accused her psychiatrist of making her think she had dozens of multiple personalities and had been sexually abused by her father was awarded more than $860,000 by a jury this week. The medical malpractice case was hailed as a victory for those who believe that "recovered-memory" therapy is false and destructive. "This is a vindication (that) this craziness was not her fault," said William Smoler, the attorney who represented Joan Hess, 47, of Wausau, Wis., in [...]
Christian Hageseth III, Colorado (and California) Psychiatrist, sentenced to jail for “practicing medicine without a license”
Fort Collins Coloradoan (Colorado) Psychiatrist gets 9 months on Internet drug charge By Nate Taylor April 18, 2009 Former Fort Collins psychiatrist Christian Hageseth III was sentenced to nine months in jail Friday in a California court after he pleaded guilty earlier this year to practicing medicine without a license. Hageseth admitted he prescribed an antidepressant to John McKay, a former Stanford University student, over the Internet in 2005 without a license to practice medicine in California. A judge in San Mateo County Court could have sentenced Hageseth to up to one year in jail. Instead Hageseth was sentenced to [...]
Vancouver Psychiatrist John Christensen sued by eight women – alleged inappropriate sex acts
Vancouver Sun Eight women sue Vancouver psychiatrist over alleged inappropriate sex acts By Keith Fraser June 7, 2018 Psychiatrist John Christensen Eight women who provided care for a disabled Vancouver psychiatrist are alleging that he told them to perform inappropriate sex acts for him. Seven of the women were hired as personal-care aides by Dr. John Allan James Christensen and one of them was hired as a live-in caregiver. Christensen, who has been a quadriplegic for 20 years and claims to suffer from chronic pain, advertised the positions on Craigslist and UBC CareersOnline. The women, many of whom were [...]
Van Batchis, Massachusetts Psychiatrist, admonished and fined for failure to respond to complaints
Board of Registration in Medicine: Disciplinary actions August 12, 1996 As a service to consumers, the Health/Science section is listing the names of Massachusetts-licensed health professionals disciplined by state boards. In each case, the listing shows the person's specialty, place of practice or residence, charges brought by the board and board action. Excerpt: Dr. Van Batchis Psychiatrist Brockton Charges: Failed to respond to correspondence from Board of Registration in Medicine regarding two pending complaints. Board action: Admonished and fined $ 3,000.