-Caveat Lector- Psychologists' Ethics Questioned CLEVELAND (AP) - Hundreds of psychologists guilty of serious professional misconduct continue to treat patients because regulatory boards composed of their peers are reluctant to discipline them, The Plain Dealer reported. Boards nationwide have revoked only a handful of licenses, and in most cases impose minor sanctions such as loose supervision, ethics coursework and therapy, the newspaper reported Sunday. Of the 670 psychologists disciplined nationally for sexual misconduct, 131 were only reprimanded or were placed on probation under terms that allowed them to continue practicing, the newspaper reported. The newspaper's survey of the nation's regulatory boards found that from September 1971 through last June, nearly 2,200 of the nation's 75,000 licensed psychologists committed major ethical violations, such as engaging in sexual misconduct with a patient. Twenty-seven states have revoked five or fewer licenses. West Virginia, Rhode Island, North Dakota and Montana license a total of 1,500 psychologists but have taken a combined 15 disciplinary actions and have never revoked a license. And New York, home to about 14,000 psychologists, has revoked 12 licenses. In Ohio, which has 3,900 licensed psychologists, the Board of Psychology has revoked only 16 licenses since it came into existence in 1972. Critics of the self-regulated profession told the newspaper that serious misconduct should result in license forfeitures. ``For the physicians or therapists who have engaged in sex with their patients, they should not be allowed to go back into practice, period,'' said Dr. Sidney Wolfe, director of the Public Citizen Health Research Group. Many boards impose lenient sentences because they see themselves as therapists trying to rehabilitate dysfunctional peers rather than judges dispensing justice, said R. Chris Barden, a Salt Lake City psychologist who served on the Minnesota Board of Psychology during 1993-1997. ``I refer to psychology boards as 'captured boards,' boards that have been captured by the profession they are supposed to regulate,'' he said. DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
