“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
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.
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 [...]
Tobias Friedman, Psychiatrist (Shreveport & Salem) – Prosecution mulled
Tobias Friedman The Boston Globe Prosecution mulled in '70s abuse claims By Tom Coakley October 27, 1992 -- Excerpt In the wake of decades-old sexual assault charges filed against James Porter in Bristol County, Salem and Peabody police are investigating a former Massachusetts psychiatrist to determine if he can be prosecuted for allegedly molesting at least two young female patients in the 1970s. The women making the charges against the psychiatrist, Tobias Friedman, hope to take advantage of the same exception to the state statute of limitations that allowed prosecutors to gain indictments of Porter in September for allegedly molesting [...]
Case Beukenkamp, NY Psychiatrist – “extreme misconduct”
Newsday (New York) The Secret World of Case Beukenkamp By Jamie Talan and Richard C. Firstman August 18, 1992 -- Excerpt FOR THREE MONTHS in the 1960s, a young woman from Roslyn named Sandy Schlager sat mute in a corner of her Manhattan psychiatrist's office, outside the circle of her twice-a-week therapy group. The doctor, a pioneer of group therapy, had banished Schlager for talking too much. One night, as a session was about to begin, the psychiatrist, a charismatic, authoritative man with black-rimmed glasses and a black goatee, turned to Schlager and said there was only one [...]
Felix Larocca, Missouri psychiatrist, sex with teen-age patients
Felix Larocca St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Missouri) PSYCHIATRIST ACCUSED OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT LOSES LICENSE By Roger Signor August 13, 1992 -- Excerpt Missouri's agency that disciplines errant doctors has revoked the medical license of Dr. Felix F. Larocca, a St. Louis psychiatrist who the agency says had sexual relations with two of his teen-age patients in the mid-1980s. The agency, the Missouri Board of Registration for the Healing Arts, announced its decision Wednesday. Larocca, medical director of Deaconess Hospital's Eating and Mood Disorders Program, resigned his position Wednesday because he no longer has a medical license, said Jerry W. Paul, hospital [...]
Melvin Wise, Florida psychiatrist, license revoked
Melvin Wise St. Petersburg Times Doctor's license revoked By Carol Gentry August 8, 1992 -- Excerpt ... Malcolmson told the board Florida needs to form a task force to ease the plight of sexual abuse victims who are getting chewed up by the system. While seven women brought complaints against Dr. Melvin Wise, two refused to testify after seeing the others skewered by Wise's attorneys. Only Malcolmson's case survived the legal process. It was the basis for the board's vote Friday to revoke Wise's license. Wise, who practiced child and adolescent psychiatry in Miami, did not appear at the hearing. [...]
David McWhirter, San Diego Psychiatrist, sued
David McWhirter Los Angeles Times SEX THERAPIST SUED BY MALE EX-PATIENT By Nora Zamichow July 30, 1992 -- Excerpt A male former patient is suing the medical director of the San Diego County Psychiatric Hospital, alleging that Dr. David McWhirter took advantage of his emotional problems to seduce him, and another former patient has filed notice that he intends to sue on similar grounds. McWhirter, an expert in human sexuality and head of the county's mental health facility for five years, invited the first patient to his home for dinner, where the patient said he was "forcibly dragged across [...]
Thomas Morris, Mass. Psychiatrist, accused of misconduct
Thomas Morris The Boston Globe Panel likely to clear doctor of sex abuse; Critics decry handling of women's complaints By Alison Bass, Globe Staff July 3, 1992 -- Excerpt In the latest turn in a byzantine case that has triggered bitter complaints from patient-advocates, the state medical board is expected next week to drop charges against a psychiatrist accused of sexually abusing two women patients during the 1970s. Advocates for sexual-abuse victims charge that the process was stacked in the doctor's favor because the board refused to hold a joint hearing on the two women's complaints; following separate proceedings, [...]
Edward Daniels, Boston Psychiatrist, license revoked
Edward Daniels The Boston Globe Board votes to strip psychiatrist of license By Alison Bass and Luz Delgado June 25, 1992 -- Excerpt The state medical board voted unanimously last night to revoke the medical license of Dr. Edward M. Daniels, one of the most influential psychiatrists in the Boston area, for allegedly sexually abusing four female patients over the last three decades. "Indeed, the pattern, nature, extent and severity of misconduct, including the number of patients involved and the harm" to the patients "is so egregious that we can think of no circumstances whereby the respondent could satisfactorily demonstrate [...]
Eric Burstein, Columbus psychiatrist, license revoked
Eric Burstein Columbus Dispatch (Ohio) SEX WITH PATIENT COSTS PSYCHIATRIST OHIO LICENSE May 15, 1992 By Laurie Loscocco -- Excerpt A former Columbus psychiatrist has lost his license to practice medicine in Ohio for having a three-year sexual relationship with a patient. The State Medical Board of Ohio on Wednesday permanently revoked the license of Dr. Eric Burstein, who now practices in Albuquerque, N.M. Burstein was associated with Riverside Methodist Hospitals from 1980 to 1989 and a local health maintenance organization from 1984 to 1989. The board charged that Burstein had a sexual relationship with a psychiatric patient from July [...]
John Hamilton, Columbia psychiatrist – guilty of unprofessional conduct
John Hamilton The Washington Post Psychiatry Official From Md. Had Sex With Patient; Columbia Doctor Quits as Officer of National Association After His License Is Suspended By Stephen Buckley March 6, 1992 -- Excerpt A Columbia psychiatrist resigned as an officer of the American Psychiatric Association Wednesday night after Maryland's medical disciplinary board suspended his license for a year because he had a sexual relationship with a patient. John Hamilton, 68, stepped down as a deputy medical director of the APA after the state Board of Physician Quality Assurance found him guilty of unprofessional conduct toward a 40-year-old woman being [...]
Jason Richter, Denver psychiatrist, loses lawsuit
Jason Richter Hartford Courant PBS examines issue of sex on therapist's couch By Frank Spencer-Molloy November 12, 1991 -- Excerpt That decided minority of Americans who believed Anita Hill's version of events will appreciate the blame-the-victim strategy that largely succeeds tonight when PBS's "Frontline" explores the subject of sex between therapists and patients. "My Doctor, My Lover" (9 p.m., CPTV, Channel 24 in Hartford area) shows how rape begets rape as the courtroom tactics of lawyers for a 35-year-old Denver psychiatrist accused of sexual malpractice take up where the psychiatrist, Dr. Jason Richter, left off. Canadian documentary-makers John Zaritsky and [...]
James Tyhurst, Vancouver psychiatrist, sentenced
James Tyhurst The Globe and Mail CANADA IN BRIEF Psychiatrist sentenced By CP June 26, 1991 A Vancouver psychiatrist found guilty of sexually enslaving four former patients was sentenced yesterday to four years in prison. Dr. James Tyhurst, former head of the University of British Columbia psychiatry department, was convicted earlier this month.
Edward Askren, Georgia Psychiatrist, “disciplined in sex case”
Edward Askren The Atlanta Journal and Constitution Psychiatrist is disciplined in sex case; License suspended a month for intimacies with patient in 1981 By Steve Sternberg April 4, 1991 -- Excerpt The medical license of Dr. Edward L. Askren III, a psychiatrist who had admitted having sex with a patient, was temporarily suspended Wednesday by the Composite State Board of Medical Examiners. The one-month suspension will be followed by five years of probation during which Dr. Askren must undergo psychotherapy, must be supervised by another psychiatrist - and may not see any patient without a licensed therapist in the [...]
Marc Talisman, Ca. Psychiatrist, accused of sex with 17-year-old
Marc Talisman Los Angeles Times Psychiatrist Accused of Sex with Two Patients By Lanie Jones February 26, 1991 -- Excerpt The Medical Board of California has accused a longtime county Health Care Agency psychiatrist of gross negligence for allegedly having sexual relations with two patients, one only 17 years old. The board, which monitors the professional conduct of the state's physicians, is seeking to revoke or suspend the license of Marc Z. Talisman, 45, a part-time psychiatrist in the county's Mission Viejo mental health office for 10 years. Under ethical cannons, psychiatrists are not supposed to have any personal relationship [...]
Norman Ackerman, Manhattan psychiatrist, arrested
Norman Ackerman Newsday (New York) Psychiatric Clinic Charged In $ 1.3M Fraud By Gale Scott December 7, 1990 -- Excerpt A Roslyn psychiatrist and his two Manhattan partners were arrested yesterday and charged with $ 1.3 million in Medicaid fraud in connection with a defunct psychiatric clinic they operated on 121st Street in Harlem. Dr. Nathaniel Lehrman, 67, of Roslyn, Dr. Norman Ackerman, 65, who practiced psychiatry in Manhattan until his license was revoked for sexual misconduct, and their office manager, Robert Cohen, 51, are charged with fraudulently billing the state for 50,000 "phantom" psychotherapy sessions at the Lenox Psychiatric [...]
Leonard R. Friedman, Massachusetts Psychiatrist – “sexual activity with patient”
Leonard R. Friedman The Boston Globe SJC rule backs medicine panel NEW ENGLAND NEWS BRIEFS November 2, 1990 The state's highest court ruled yesterday that the state Board of Registration in Medicine did not abuse its powers when it decided three years ago to revoke the license of a Boston psychiatrist for engaging in sexual activity with a patient. The Supreme Judicial Court said there was "substantial evidence" for the board to conclude that Dr. Leonard R. Friedman of the Back Bay had "engaged in gross misconduct in the practice of medicine." The board revoked Friedman's license on June 24, [...]
George Hayter, California psychiatrist, accused of kissing and fondling one of his patients
George Hayter Los Angeles Times PSYCHIATRIST CHARGED WITH FONDLING A FEMALE PATIENT By LANIE JONES May 9, 1990 -- Excerpt The Medical Board of California has accused an Orange psychiatrist of kissing and fondling one of his patients and continuing that intimate conduct for 3 1/2 years. Dr. George M. Hayter, 52, vehemently denied the charges. "That's totally untrue," he said. A 1966 graduate of Duke University Medical School, Hayter has been licensed to practice medicine in California since 1968 and has served on staff at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange for 18 years. In an April 12 civil [...]
Paul Walters, Harvard Psychiatrist, accused
The Boston Globe 2 psychiatrists accused of abuse lose Mass. licenses By Alison Bass November 14, 1989 -- Excerpt ...Paul Walters, former head of Harvard University's mental health services, permanently surrendered his medical license in Massachusetts last month rather than face public hearings accusing him of sexual misconduct. Walters told the board he would also surrender his medical license in California, but officials there said yesterday he has not yet done so... In the past year, nine Massachusetts psychiatrists have been charged by the state medicine board with having had improper sexual contact with patients. So far, five have either [...]
Cesar Menez, Farmington Psychiatrist, accused of false insurance claims
Cesar Menez St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Missouri) DOCTOR ACCUSED OF FALSE INSURANCE CLAIMS DOCTOR IS CHARGED IN FALSE CLAIMS Farmington, Mo. (AP) October 13, 1989 --Excerpt A psychiatrist in Farmington has been charged with stealing from an insurance company. A year ago, he surrendered his Kansas psychiatric license after allegations of sexual misconduct were made against him. The psychiatrist, Dr. Cesar Menez, 52, was arrested Wednesday in Farmington after an indictment last month charged him with stealing from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City. A grand jury in Jackson County handed up the indictment Sept. 29, but prosecutors [...]
Francesco Di Leo, Maryland Psychiatrist, gave hallucinogenic drugs
Francesco Di Leo The Washington Post Psychiatrist's Patient Granted $ 700,000 in Md. October 1, 1989 -- Excerpt A Circuit Court jury in Baltimore has awarded $700,000 in damages to a woman who was fondled and given hallucinogenic drugs by a psychiatrist who said the practice was a new form of therapy. The Maryland Board of Physician Quality Assurance temporarily suspended Francesco Di Leo's license in July 1987, after finding him guilty of immoral conduct and incompetence in the case. Authorities also found that Di Leo was taking hallucinogens...
Beltran Pages, Florida Psychiatrist – Allegations of Sexual Misconduct
Beltran Pages St. Petersburg Times HRS gets veiled look at blots on doctors' records November 20, 1988 By Carol Gentry -- Excerpt ... In another August case, the board pondered what to do about 37-year-old psychiatrist Beltran Pages, who had been found guilty of sexually abusing a patient while in private practice. By the time Pages came before the board, he was working at Health and Rehabilitative Services' Miami hospital for the criminally insane. Board members suspended Pages' license for three years, but agreed that the suspension could be put on hold while he was appealing his case as long [...]
Franklin Simon, Manhattan psychiatrist, charged with 4-year-old girl abuse
Franklin Simon The New York Times State Psychiatrist Held In Sex Abuse of Girl, 4 September 26, 1986 --Excerpt A supervising psychiatrist at the state's Manhattan Psychiatric Center on Wards Island was arrested yesterday and charged with sexually abusing a 4-year-old neighbor girl at his home. The psychiatrist, Dr. Franklin Simon, 45, of 325 Riverside Drive in Manhattan, was charged with first-degree sexual abuse, a felony punishable by up to seven years in prison. State officials said he would be suspended without pay from his $75,000-a-year job pending the case's outcome. Lieut. Richard J. Marcus of the Manhattan sex crimes [...]
Charles Berry, Atlanta Psychiatrist – sentenced to 20 years in prison
Charles Berry Washington Post Customs Service Leads War on Child Pornography By Mary Thornton August 9, 1986 -- Excerpt Dr. Charles Markham Berry, a prominent Atlanta psychiatrist known for his Christian counseling and volunteer work at local orphanages, was sentenced last month to 20 years in prison on federal and state charges of child molestation and child pornography. At Berry's federal trial, U.S. Attorney Stephen Cowen said that "the evil that Dr. Berry has done in his life totally overshadowed the good. He wrapped himself in religious piety and used his position in the church and the community to shield [...]
Rafael Rivera, Army psychiatrist, accused of sexual relations with patient
Rafael Rivera United Press International Army psychiatrist accused of having sex with patient By Neil Roland July 7, 1986 -- Excerpt The Army is investigating allegations against a psychiatrist accused of having sexual relations with a female patient at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center between 1983 and 1985, an Army spokesman says. On June 17, the Army ordered an investigation of charges that Dr. Rafael ''Pete'' Rivera, a colonel, committed sodomy, ''indecent acts,'' adultery and ''conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman,'' Army spokesman Lt. Col. John Ooley said last week... The commanding general at Fort Belvoir, Va., will [...]