I can’t think why, now that action against an experienced psychiatrist has shown that he tried to prey sexually on his client and over-prescribed drugs, that the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal (ACAT) President Linda Crebbin should not publish his name in the public interest.
Professionals are able to practice because governments subsidise their training, services, and drug; they legislate for medical boards to register them and regulate their behaviour; and they set up other regulatory bodies such as ACAT. There is a huge responsibility on governments to disclose when they know someone whom they empowered through massive taxpayer subsidy and public trust is a menace.
If this man believes his behaviour is not sexual because he had ‘romantic feelings’ for the woman he is deluded as well as unethical.
Disclosure of his name is the best way to prevent his setting up in any guise to ‘help’ people. If he is lying, all the more reason.
But no one should disclose the victim’s name. Having misplaced her trust in one professional, she may not be aware that, very often, wrong behaviour like this was known to colleagues who did nothing to stop it. When disclosure comes, they often try to deflect attention from their own part in allowing it. A common way is to try to create doubts in the public’s mind about the integrity of the victim and their information.
If other psychiatrists knew and failed to do all they could to stop it, we should know who they are. Would you trust a psychiatrist who let a colleague prey sexually on a patient?
– Katherine Beauchamp, CLA member, Canberra