Full question:
Two-and-a-half years ago four individuals, including myself, filed ethics complaints against a local psychologist. These ethics complaints were filed with the State Board of Psychologists. Three of the complainants were employees of this psychologist. Our allegations ranged from sexual harassment in and out of the workplace to falsifying personality testing. The other complainant was a patient of this psychologist and a minor at the time the offenses occurred. Her complaints were those of fondling, kissing, and inappropriate comments made by this psychologist to the patient. To make a long story short, during the past two-and-a-half years, this psychologist's attorney filed two lawsuits against the State Board and later brought one of the suits to Appellate Court after losing a decision. In the end, the State Board of Psychologists "dismissed" all of the claims in lieu of this psychologist admitting he was an "impaired psychologist" and in lieu of this psychologist dropping the suits he had made against the State Board. The only "reprimand" this psychologist received from the State Board was a mandate stating that he had to see another psychologist monthly for six months. All the while, the State Board allowed this psychologist -- even though he admitted to being an "impaired psychologist" -- to practice while under investigation of these claims and even allowed him to obtain prescription privileges. We were under the impression that the State Board would protect the public by swiftly and justly dealing with sex offenders and pedophiles but this has definitely not been the case. This man must have friends in the right places on the Board! We feel that The Board of Psychologists, in essence, allowed this man's attorney to manipulate their "system" of handling ethics complaints. Had we known that the Board would not have instituted its power in swiftly and appropriately dealing with these complaints, we would have considered other avenues of filing our complaints. We feel that the State Board of Psychologists was remiss in protecting us as well as the public and that this psychologist basically got away with crime. At this point, is there anything we can do to bring this man to justice and bring these matters to a conclusion? And do we have any recourse against the Board for not doing its duty to protect the public?
- Category: Healthcare
- Date:
- State: Louisiana
Answer:
The people upon whom he is committing the acts have actions they can take under Federal and possibly State law, such as sexual harrassment claims. If any of the actions are criminal, the criminal system could also get involved.
Although the Board route is available, it involves many issues and procedures that are very complicated and sometimes political. Action against the Board for not doing what you want probably will not help.
Regardless of the route taken, an attorney should be retained to represent the offended people in this matter.
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