PSYCHSEARCH

SEXUAL MISCONDUCT

“Sexual misconduct is particularly damaging to the reputation of psychiatry because the damages to patients which result are mental and emotional in nature. If psychiatry loses the confidence of society, its ability to pursue its mission will be damaged.”

American Psychiatric Association
Approved by the Board of Trustees
March 1993

sexual misconduct

Ottawa Citizen
PSYCHIATRISTS MORE LIKELY TO MISBEHAVE; STUDY; SEXUAL MISCONDUCT A PARTICULAR PROBLEM
December 8, 2012
Psychiatrists are twice as likely as other Canadian doctors to face professional discipline generally and almost four times as apt to be sanctioned for sexual misconduct, concludes a new study that underscores long-held concerns about the specialty.

The Associated Press
PSYCHIATRISTS RARELY TURN IN COLLEAGUES FOR SEXUAL MISCONDUCT
April 7, 1987
Two-thirds of psychiatrists say they have treated patients who were sexually involved with other therapists, but they report colleagues for unethical sexual behavior in less than 10 percent of the cases, according to a national survey.

The Tennessean
PSYCHIATRISTS LOSE SEXUAL MISCONDUCT MALPRACTICE INSURANCE

February 25, 1985
Beginning May 1, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) will no longer cover sexual misconduct, or so-called “undue familiarity,” in its malpractice insurance. Millions of dollars have been paid to settle complaints and lawsuits stemming from sexual misconduct, the largest award being $4.66 million, awarded in 1981.

The Seattle Times
PATIENT ABUSE — MANY THERAPISTS SEEM UNWILLING TO POLICE THEIR OWN PROFESSION

April 11, 1993
Newsweek magazine reported that “65 percent of psychiatrists said they had treated patients who had been sexually involved with previous therapists,” but only 8 percent reported the incidents to authorities.

One woman, Barbara Noel, wrote a book (“You Must Be Dreaming”) about her nightmare of psychiatric sexual abuse. She revealed that the American Psychiatric Association tried to protect her psychiatrist from unfavorable publicity.

Furthermore, Noel’s abuser, Jules Masserman, was not just any psychiatrist, but a past president of the American Psychiatric Association and an honorary life president of the World Association for Social Psychiatry.

The Burlington Free Press
VERMONT PSYCHIATRISTS DISCIPLINED AT HIGHER RATE

May 26, 2002
A Burlington Free Press analysis has found that 39 percent of the doctors disciplined by state regulators in the past five years have been psychiatrists. Fewer than 11 percent of Vermont’s doctors practice psychiatry.

Further, nearly all the charges involved doctors’ sexual misconduct or abuse of alcohol and drugs.

  • Fermin Briones

Fermin Briones, Jr, San Antonio psychiatrist, suspended

Fermin Briones, Jr. KSAT SA psychiatrist has license suspended over relationship with patient Fermin Briones, Jr. has license temporarily suspended By Robert Taylor January 5, 2015 SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio psychiatrist had his license temporarily suspended by the Texas Medical Board over a sexual relationship with a patient. Dr. Fermin Briones, Jr. had his licensed suspended Jan. 2. The board cited evidence including videos, emails and text messages about the relationship with the patient as reason for the suspension. The board said Briones' continuation in the practice of medicine "poses a continuing threat to public welfare." Briones faces [...]

Thomas Havel, California psychiatrist, sexual misconduct

Thomas Havel San Jose Mercury News Mountain View: Advocates for those molested by priests want psychiatrist out of El Camino Hospital By Eric Kurhi December 5, 2014 --Excerpt Victim advocates Friday called for the ouster of a psychiatrist and former priest who has practiced at El Camino Hospital for decades, citing accusations that he had molested two teenage girls years ago. In 1988 Dr. Thomas Havel, now 77, was accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl whom he had counseled before coming to El Camino, beginning when she was 13 years old. That lawsuit was dismissed on the grounds that [...]

Anil Ramachandran, Libertyville psychiatrist – “alleged cases of sexual assault”

Anil Ramachandran Chicago Sun-Times Sex assault allegations prompt suspension of doctor's license; State's attorney's office, Waukegan police review the case for criminal charges By Ruth Fuller July 4, 2014 -- Excerpt Prosecutors said they have not yet decided whether they will criminally charge a Libertyville psychiatrist who has been sued civilly for two alleged cases of sexual assault, one of which occurred in November and resulted in his DNA being found inside a woman’s body. Waukegan police and the Lake County State’s Attorney’s office are investigating the complaints against Dr. Anil Ramachandran, whose license to practice medicine in Illinois was [...]

Ali Salim, Ohio Psychiatrist – Sentenced to 36 years

Ali Salim The Columbus Dispatch Doctor sentenced to 36 years for killing pregnant woman By Laura Arenschield December 20, 2013 -- Excerpt DELAWARE, Ohio — A doctor who admitted to killing a pregnant woman and her unborn daughter in the summer of 2012 was sentenced today to serve 36 years and 4 months in prison. Ali Salim, 44, pleaded guilty in October to killing 23-year-old Deanna Ballman after she answered a Craigslist ad he’d placed for a prostitute. Ballman was nine months pregnant at the time of her death. Her unborn daughter, whom she’d planned to name Mabel, also [...]

David Israelstam, Wisconsin Psychiatrist, Sentenced

David Israelstam Dane County Sheriff's Office Wisconsin State Journal Former psychiatrist gets prison term for child porn By Ed Treleven November 1, 2013 -- Excerpt A former Madison psychiatrist who amassed a cache of child pornography at his home, his office and in his car, and admitted to sex with patients, was sentenced Thursday to 1½ years in prison. David M. Israelstam, 74, told Dane County Circuit Judge Stephen Ehlke that he has had “a significant problem with sexual addiction that’s been with me for most of my adult life.” But he said his viewing of child pornography, [...]

  • David Wilson

David Wilson, Utah Child Psychiatrist, Arrested and Fired

David Wilson Daily Mail Child psychiatrist arrested for having HUNDREDS of child porn images on his work computer By Daily Mail Reporter September 10, 2013 -- Excerpt A Utah child psychiatrist has been arrested and fired after officials say they found child pornography on his computer. The Weber County Sheriff's Office says 41-year-old David F. Wilson was arrested Friday and booked into jail on 15 counts of possessing and viewing child pornography. Officials say hundreds of child pornography images were found on Dr Wilson's computer at McKay-Dee Hospital in Ogden, where he worked as a child psychiatrist until April. [...]

William Ayres, California psychiatrist, sentenced to eight years

William Ayres San Jose Mercury News Peninsula child psychiatrist William Ayres sentenced to eight years for molesting patients By Joshua Melvin August 27, 2013 -- EXCERPT REDWOOD CITY -- As one victim after another testified, calling William Ayres a monster and a serial child-abuser who robbed them of their innocence, the once-renowned child psychiatrist sat stoically Monday as a judge sentenced him to eight years in prison for molesting his former patients. Because of his age and health problems, it is likely a life sentence for the 81-year-old ex-doctor who pleaded no contest to eight felony counts of lewd [...]

William Ellien, prominent Savannah Psychiatrist, sentenced to prison

William Ellien Department of Justice U.S. Attorney’s Office Southern District of Georgia FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, May 24, 2013 Savannah Doctor Sentenced To 30 Months In Pills For Sex Scheme SAVANNAH , GA: WILLIAM ELLIEN, 57, of Savannah, Georgia, was sentenced yesterday in federal court by U.S. District Court Judge William T. Moore, Jr., to 30 months in prison for exchanging prescriptions for highly addictive drugs in exchange for sex. Ellien was also sentenced to serve 3 years of supervised release upon his release from prison and ordered to surrender all of his medical licenses. According to the evidence presented [...]

  • Abdullahi Mohamed

Abdullahi Mohamed, Michigan Psychiatrist, Sentenced

Abdullahi Mohamed The Monroe Evening News (Michigan) Doctor sentenced in sexual assaults March 22, 2013 By Ray Kisonas -- Excerpt ...Dr. Abdullahi A. Mohamed, 58, will spend the next year in jail after he was sentenced by Monroe County Circuit Judge Michael A. Weipert. In addition to imprisonment, Judge Weipert sentenced Dr. Mohamed to five years of probation and ordered that he no longer can practice medicine. The defendant also must stay away from the victims. In January, Dr. Mohamed, whose license remains active through 2015 according to the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, pleaded no contest [...]

Richard Adamson, Seattle Psychiatrist, accused of sex with 2 patients

Richard Adamson Seattlepi.com Woman sues Seattle psychiatrist accused of sex with patients By Vanessa Ho April 7, 2011 -- Excerpt A Seattle psychiatrist accused by the state of having sex with two patients has been sued by one of his patients, who said his actions caused her "severe psychological and emotional injury." Last week, the state's Medical Quality Assurance Commission suspended the license of Richard T. Adamson, after accusing him of having sex with two female patients and disclosing the contents of their therapy sessions to other patients. Much of the woman's lawsuit, filed Monday in King County Superior Court, [...]

Edmundo Chirinos, Venezuela Psychiatrist, Sentenced

Edmundo Chirinos Associated Press Venezuelan psychiatrist sentenced in slaying September 29, 2010 -- Excerpt A prominent Venezuelan psychiatrist who once ran for president has been sentenced to 20 years in prison in the murder of a young woman who was his patient. The attorney general's office said Wednesday that Edmundo Chirinos was convicted of killing 19-year-old Roxana Vargas, whose body was found with a blow to the head in 2008 in a park on the outskirts of Caracas. Chirinos had pleaded innocent to the intentional homicide charge. The attorney general's office says investigators found some 1,200 photographs of nude [...]

Leo D’Souza, Cincinnati child psychiatrist, loses license

The Cincinnati Enquirer (Ohio) Psychiatrist loses medical license May 16, 2008 By Dan Horn --- Excerpt A Cincinnati child psychiatrist who is facing sex crime charges lost his medical license this week. The Ohio Medical Board permanently revoked the license of Leo D'Souza after reviewing a 50-page report on the accusations that several former patients made against him. A Hamilton County grand jury indicted D'Souza in February on four charges of gross sexual imposition and one charge of sexual imposition. The charges involve four patients, now ages 14 to 21, who accuse the doctor of molesting them. The indictment does [...]

  • Fermin Briones

Larry Anderson, Penticton psychiatrist, More Jail

Larry Anderson Castanet Psychiatrist Gets More Time November 22, 2006 -- Excerpt A former Penticton psychiatrist has been given an additional jail sentence. Larry Anderson is currently serving an 18-month sentence on charges of sexual and indecent assault against former female patients between the late 70's and 90's. On Tuesday, he plead guilty in Penticton provincial court to assaulting his wife at their home near Princeton in 2005. The assault took place while Anderson was out on bail awaiting sentencing on sexual and indecent assault charges...

Sheldon Zigelbaum, Mass. Psychiatrist, five women testified against him

Sheldon Zigelbaum Boston Magazine Head Games May 15, 2006 By Gretchen Voss -- Excerpt An alarming number of Massachusetts psychiatrists have gotten caught again and again having sex with some of this society's most vulnerable people: their own patients... Dr. Sheldon Zigelbaum lost his license in 1992 after five women testified before the medical board that he engaged in a variety of sexual acts with them in his office, hotel rooms, his car, and, in one case, a hot tub. Some said he shared marijuana, and one woman said he did cocaine with her. Zigelbaum denied having sex [...]

Param Shukla, Brookline Psychiatrist, sentenced in sex assault

Param Shukla The Boston Herald Psychiatrist sentenced in sex assault January 15, 2004 By Marie Szaniszlo -- Excerpt A psychiatrist was sentenced to two years' probation yesterday for sexually assaulting a girl he had treated at Children's Hospital three years ago, prosecutors said. Param Shukla, 38, of Brookline pleaded guilty in Suffolk Superior Court to one count of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said. During a 2000 therapy session, Shukla offered to take the 13-year-old victim for a walk and touched her buttocks for several seconds when she bent [...]

Allan Umar-Khitab, Cambridge Psychiatrist, Suspended

Allan Umar-Khitab Hamilton Spectator (Ontario, Canada) HOSPITAL SUSPENDS PSYCHIATRIST FOLLOWING SEX CHARGES By Prithi Yelaja and Liz Monteiro July 28, 1999 -- Excerpt A prominent local psychiatrist charged with 11 counts of sexual offences against boys has been suspended from Cambridge Memorial Hospital. Dr. Allan Umar-Khitab, who was commonly known as Allan Khitab, had been practising in Cambridge since June 1989. He was the only full-time psychiatrist on staff at the hospital's mental health clinic. Khitab's arrest leaves hundreds, and possibly thousands, of patients in the lurch and hospital officials scrambling to find help. Reached at his home in [...]

Ramesh Vemuri, Crystal Lake psychiatrist, accused of molesting patient

Ramesh Vemuri Chicago Tribune SERVING OF COMPLAINT UPHELD IN MOLESTATION CASE July 17, 1998 -- Excerpt A former Crystal Lake psychiatrist accused of molesting a female patient was properly served with a civil complaint and must answer the charges, even though he has moved to India, a McHenry County judge ruled Thursday. Judge James C. Franz ruled that Dr. Ramesh B. Vemuri still had a legal residence at 7606 Crystal Spring Rd., Crystal Lake, when the complaint was left for him in March. Vemuri had left the country two months before. Attorneys for Vemuri had argued that the complaint had [...]

  • William Cone

William Cone, 73-year-old Psychiatrist, gets 133 year sentence

St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Missouri) PSYCHIATRIST GETS 133-YEAR TERM FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF TWO PATIENTS By The Associated Press February 12, 1998 -- Excerpt LEXINGTON, MO. - A psychiatrist who said "moral insanity" caused him to sexually abuse two patients was sentenced to 133 years in prison. Dr. William Cone was convicted in December of 19 counts of sexual assault. Circuit Court Judge Robert Ravenhill sentenced Cone on Tuesday to seven years on each count. Cone, 73, apologized to the victims and said he hoped that his case would help keep others from being victimized by "other impaired [...]

Mark Green – Brookline psychiatrist, suspended

Mark Green The Boston Globe Board pulls license of psychiatrist over sex, drug allegations Brookline doctor may be mentally ill By Dolores Kong June 28, 1995 -- Excerpt The state medical board has suspended the license of a Brookline psychiatrist for allegedly having sex with a patient and incorrectly prescribing medications to patients and himself. The board also says Dr. Mark D. Green may be suffering a mental illness that led him to have a bizarre run-in with police... In April, Green called police to his home to report a housebreak, but no evidence of forced entry was found. Instead, [...]

Joseph Leggett, Casper Psychiatrist, sentenced

Joseph Leggett Casper Star-Tribune Leggett sentenced to probation for sex crimes By Deirdre Stoelzle August 2, 1994 -- Excerpt CASPER — Convicted in April of two counts of second-degree sexual assault, former Casper psychiatrist Joseph Leggett was sentenced to five years of supervised probation Monday in 7th District Court. Legett committed the sexual assaults while working in Casper between 1982 and 1986. In a plea agreement promising no jail time, Leggett pleaded no contest to two counts involving use of his position of authority as a doctor to force his patients to submit to sexual acts. One former patient [...]

Dennis Lardent, Barstow psychiatrist, arrested

Dennis Lardent Barstow Dispatch Doctor held on sex, drug misuse charges By Irwin M. Goldberg Dispatch Staff Writer February 24, 1994 BARSTOW – Police arrested a Barstow psychiatrist Wednesday on suspicion of drugging a patient and sexually exploiting her. Dennis Robert L’Ardent, 47, was arrested at his motel room at the Good Nite Inn, 2551 Commerce Parkway, at about 5:15 a.m. after family members of the victim called police, said Officer Mark Franey of the Barstow Police Department. The acts allegedly took placed in L’Ardent’s office at 900 E. Main St. and in room 237 of the motel, Franey said. [...]

William Gray, Virginia Psychiatrist, License Revoked

William Gray Roanoke Times BOARD REVOKES GRAY'S MEDICAL LICENSE November 13, 1993 The regulatory board overseeing Virginia's health professions said yesterday it had revoked the medical license of a Roanoke psychiatrist who had sex with his patients. William G. Gray "unethically exploited the physician-patient relationship by engaging in sexual activities" with four young male patients, the Virginia Board of Medicine said. The board also determined that Gray had violated medical ethics and standards of care by giving the patients housing, food, money, transportation and other gifts in exchange for sexual favors. Gray offered to surrender his license to practice medicine [...]

Vincent Festa, NY psychiatrist, charged with sodomizing

Psychiatrist Vincent Festa Vincent Festa Newsday (New York) Psychiatrist Charged July 27, 1993 A Ronkonkoma man who is a school psychiatrist at Herricks High School in New Hyde Park has been arrested and charged with sodomizing and sexually abusing teenage boys at his home, Suffolk police reported. Vincent Festa, 64, of 170 Foster Ave., was charged with two counts of third-degree sodomy and one count of third-degree sexual abuse in connection with complaints involving three Ronkonkoma-area boys. Festa was arrested Sunday by Fourth Squad detectives and was arraigned yesterday in First District Court, Central [...]

C. Donald Williams, Yakima Psychiatrist, disciplined

C. Donald Williams The Seattle Times PSYCHIATRIST HASSLED FOR PAST MISTAKES? -- INVESTIGATION REACTIVATED AFTER WOMAN INQUIRES ABOUT SEXUAL-CONTACT COMPLAINT By Peter Lewis June 22, 1993 A Yakima psychiatrist, disciplined five years ago for inappropriate sexual contact with women patients, alleges the state Medical Disciplinary Board has bowed to political pressure and is hounding him for the same conduct for which he's already been punished. Lawyers for Dr. C. Donald Williams, who are asking a federal judge to halt what they claim is harassment of the doctor, say the board acted to take his license after U.S. Rep. Jay [...]

Arthur Reider, Brookline psychiatrist, “experienced delusions”

Arthur Reider The Boston Globe Medical board acts against 3 doctors By Betsy Q.M. Tong December 5, 1992 ...In separate disciplinary matters, the board announced actions taken against two other doctors for sexual misconduct with patients. Arthur E. Reider, a psychiatrist in Brookline, was allowed to continue practice on probation after admitting to the misconduct during a period of mental illness. Dr. Richard Shader, chairman of psychiatry at the New England Medical Center, reached an agreement with the board to confine his practice to research and consultation as well as to perform community service... Reider experienced delusions that resulted in [...]