Board of Examiners of Psychologists - Disciplinary Action
current | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000
2006
NOTHING TO REPORT
Top of Page
2005
CHEMELSKI, BRUCE E.
License Number: PS448
License Type: Psychologist
Complaint Number: PSY-197
Disposition: Decision and Order dated 5/24/05; Order on Request for Reconsideration dated 6/28/05
Summary: Licensee performed an evaluation of a 3-year-old girl in August 2003. A reasonable time for licensee to issue his reportof the evaluation would be 1 month. By mid-October licensee hadnot forwarded a report of the evaluation to the girl's mother. Withoutthe report, the mother could not obtain the behavioral specialistservices that her daughter needed and perhaps more important, couldnot rule out a mental condition or disease as a cause of her daughter'sdifficulties. Moreover, the daughter's care and educational providerswere unsure of which services to provide without the evaluation.The lack of a report contributed to the mother's suffering morestress and frustration regarding her daughter's care.
Despite numerous attempts by the mother and others to contact licensee,licensee did not complete the report until early March 2004. Licenseesent the report to the wrong address and never mailed a copy tothe mother. The report did not contain a diagnosis of a mental disease,which prompted the mother to seek a second opinion from anotherneurologist. That physician diagnosed the girl with cerebral palsy,which allowed her to receive the services of a behavioral specialist.
Licensee, in a written response submitted prior to hearing, admittedthe delay but wrote that he had been tending to the needs of hisaged parents who were physically and mentally incapacitated. Theboard did not accept this justification for licensee's conduct.The governing ethical code requires that psychologists refrain fromundertaking activity when they know or should know that their personalproblems are likely to lead to harm to a client. Here, the harmwas that the girl was deprived of services for at least 6 monthsthat she would have received and may have received inappropriateservices during that time due to the lack of the evaluation.
In 1995 licensee was disciplined for failing to respond in a timelyfashion to repeated requests that he provide a written report ofa child's psychological testing evaluation. The board in this currentproceeding issued licensee a reprimand, suspended the license for1 year, ordered licensee to pay $1152.50 hearing costs, put licenseeon probation for 3 years, ordered licensee to undergo a psychologicalevaluation regarding his general fitness to practice psychology,and ordered licensee to receive face-to-face, individual supervisionupon his resumption of practice for a minimum of 1½ hoursevery 2 weeks for a minimum period of 1 year. As part of the supervision,the supervisor must also perform a review of licensee's patientcaseload and records dating back to August 2003 with respect tocase management, billing practices, and professional and ethicalissues in general, especially as regards the issuance of timelyreports. Licensee may petition the board after 6 months have elapsedfor a reduction in the suspension if her submits written documentationthat he has complied with the terms of the Decision and Order.
The board barred licensee from providing professional supervisionto any individual during the period of probation. The board alsorecommended that licensee reimburse the third-party payor fees hereceived for the evaluation which was the subject of this complaintand that he provide proof of reimbursement to the board.
ORDER ON REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION
The board denied licensee's request to void the suspension of hislicense. The board granted licensee's request that he be allowedto petition the board for reinstatement after 2 months, rather than6 months, if he submits written documentation that he has compliedwith the terms of the original Decision and Order.
CHEMELSKI, BRUCE E.
License Number: PS448
License Type: Psychologist
Complaint Number: PSY-197
Disposition: Decision and Order dated 5/24/05
Summary: Licensee performed an evaluation of a 3-year-old girl inAugust 2003. A reasonable time for licensee to issue his reportof the evaluation would be 1 month. By mid-October licensee hadnot forwarded a report of the evaluation to the girl's mother. Withoutthe report, the mother could not obtain the behavioral specialistservices that her daughter needed and perhaps more important, couldnot rule out a mental condition or disease as a cause of her daughter'sdifficulties. Moreover, the daughter's care and educational providerswere unsure of which services to provide without the evaluation.The lack of a report contributed to the mother's suffering morestress and frustration regarding her daughter's care.
Despite numerous attempts by the mother and others to contact licensee,licensee did not complete the report until early March 2004. Licenseesent the report to the wrong address and never mailed a copy tothe mother. The report did not contain a diagnosis of a mental disease,which prompted the mother to seek a second opinion from anotherneurologist. That physician diagnosed the girl with cerebral palsy,which allowed her to receive the services of a behavioral specialist.
Licensee, in a written response submitted prior to hearing, admittedthe delay but wrote that he had been tending to the needs of hisaged parents who were physically and mentally incapacitated. Theboard did not accept this justification for licensee's conduct.The governing ethical code requires that psychologists refrain fromundertaking activity when they know or should know that their personalproblems are likely to lead to harm to a client. Here, the harmwas that the girl was deprived of services for at least 6 monthsthat she would have received and may have received inappropriateservices during that time due to the lack of the evaluation.
In 1995 licensee was disciplined for failing to respond in a timelyfashion to repeated requests that he provide a written report ofa child's psychological testing evaluation. The board in this currentproceeding issued licensee a reprimand, suspended the license for1 year, ordered licensee to pay $1152.50 hearing costs, put licenseeon probation for 3 years, ordered licensee to undergo a psychologicalevaluation regarding his general fitness to practice psychology,and ordered licensee to receive face-to-face, individual supervisionupon his resumption of practice for a minimum of 1½ hoursevery 2 weeks for a minimum period of 1 year. As part of the supervision, the supervisor must also perform a review of licensee's patient caseload and records dating back to August 2003 with respect to case management, billing practices, and professional and ethical issues in general, especially as regards the issuance of timely reports. Licensee may petition the board after 6 months have elapsed for a reduction in the suspension if her submits written documentation that he has complied with the terms of the Decision and Order.
The board barred licensee from providing professional supervision to any individual during the period of probation. The board also recommended that licensee reimburse the third-party payor fees he received for the evaluation which was the subject of this complaint and that he provide proof of reimbursement to the board.
GRAHAM, KEVIN M.
License Number: PE1094
License Type: Psychological Examiner
Complaint Number: 2003-PSY-194
Disposition: Consent Agreement dated 11/22/05
Summary: Licensee admitted that an assessment of a minor child that he performed violated pertinent ethical standards in five respects. Licensee agreed to a reprimand.
MORIN, MARK D.
License Number: PS1040
License Type: Psychologist
Complaint Number: 2003-PSY-191
Disposition: Withdrawal of appeal from preliminary denial of relicensure;withdrawal dated August 19, 2005
Summary: On June 29, 2004 the board preliminarily denied licensee'sapplication for renewal of the license. The grounds for denial werethat: (1) licensee engaged in a personal relationship with his clientand the client's minor son; (2) licensee was convicted of unlawfullysexually assaulting the client's minor son, a Class C crime, andas a result was sentenced to a prison term of five years; and (3)licensee provided false information to the board in response tothe complaint which led to the denial. Licensee appealed the preliminarydenial by letter dated July 1, 2004. The appeal was continued pendingthe outcome of licensee's appeal of his criminal conviction to theLaw Court. The Law Court upheld the conviction, following whichthe board commenced steps to schedule the appeal hearing. Licensee,who was incarcerated, withdrew the appeal by letter dated August19, 2005, at which point the preliminary denial became final. Theboard received notice of the withdrawal by copy of a confirmingletter to licensee from Assistant Attorney General Judith Petersdated August 24, 2005.
MORRISON, LINDA L.
License Number: PS951
License Type: Psychologist
Complaint Number: 2004-PSY-206
Disposition: Consent Agreement dated 11/22/05
Summary: Licensee admitted that she violated applicable ethicalstandards in submitting an affidavit invoking her professional credentialsand expressing professional opinions in a child custody case onbehalf of parties with whom she has a personal and not a professionalrelationship. Licensee agreed to a reprimand and a six-month probation.During probation, licensee agreed to meet with a disciplinary supervisorfor a minimum of 1.5 hours of face-to-face, individual sessionsper month.
Top of Page
2004
PRATT, JAY
License Number: PE752
License Type: Psychological Examiner
Complaint Number: PSY-189
Disposition: Consent Agreement dated 4/27/04
Summary: Licensee admitted that he became involved in an intimaterelationship with a former patient within five months of terminationof services. He admitted that the parties became engaged and thatthe parties intend to marry. Licensee agreed to a reprimand. Licenseealso agreed to permanently surrender the license to the board, andfurther agreed that he will not be eligible for licensure with theboard at any level in the future.
RICHARDS, CAROLYN B.
License Number: PS409
License Type: Psychologist
Complaint Number: PSY-192
Disposition: Consent Agreement dated 6/29/04
Summary: Complaint filed by former client alleged: (a) that complainantcared for licensee's cats in licensee's home during terminal illnessof licensee's parents, (b) that complainant stayed at licensee'shome to care for licensee while licensee recuperated from an illness,(c) that complainant moved into licensee's home and lived therefor several years, and was later joined by complainant's husband;and (d) that licensee married complainant's husband shortly afterthe latter's divorce from complainant. Licensee admitted that sheviolated ethical standards relating to (a) dual relationships thatimpair a psychologist's professional judgment and risk exploitingthe trust and dependency of persons such as former clients, and(b) protection of former clients from inadequate performance orharm due to personal problems of the psychologist. Licensee agreedto a reprimand, agreed to complete twelve hours of continuing professionaleducation, and agreed that her practice will be subject to supervisionfor a minimum period of two years by a supervising psychologist.Supervision is to consist, at a minimum, of 1½ hour face-toface individual sessions occurring once every two weeks. The purposeof the supervision is to provide instruction and direction as toprofessional ethics, boundaries, and responsibility as a whole and,specifically, those ethical issues raised directly by the complaint.
Top of Page
2003
CORRIN, DENIS D.
License Number: PS109
License Type: Psychologist
Complaint Number: PSY-169
Disposition: Decision and Order dated 11/10/03
Summary: Board found that in the 1970s licensee suggested to a femaleclient that their counseling relationship should end, that the clientneeded a friend, and that he, the licensee, was willing to fulfillthat role. Within 3 months after the termination of therapy licenseebegan a friendship with the former client, and they participatedtogether in a number of activities. This developed into a sexualrelationship, in or about October or November 1978, that lastedfor at least 6 months. Licensee and the former client "touchedbase" at different times thereafter. In or about 2000, licenseesold the former client firewood.
In 1982 and 1983 licensee invited a different female client toparticipate in hiking trips which lasted 2 or 3 days. On 1 occasionlicensee and the client shared a tent, although they never had asexual relationship. In 1986 the client planned a stay at a familytime share apartment in her attempt to deal with the suicide ofher husband. Licensee suggested that he visit her there. The clientinterpreted this suggestion as an invitation for a sexual encounterand never agreed to the visit. One night during her stay, licenseecame to her apartment and asked to be admitted. The client did notrespond. Licensee became angry but eventually went away.
The board denied licensee's application for renewal of his licenseand voted to deny any future application by licensee for relicensure.
FREEDMAN,JONATHAN
License Number: PS490
License Type: Psychologist
Complaint Number: PSY-167
Disposition: Consent Agreement dated 3/26/03
Summary: Licensee admitted that his repeated references to his psychologistlicense in communications relating to his divorce and child custodymatters violated an ethical standard adopted by the board. Licenseeagreed to a reprimand. Licensee agreed that his practice will besubject to monitoring for a period of not less than 6 months normore than 1 year. Monitoring is to consist of 40 face-to-face sessionswith a psychologist to provide instruction and direction to licenseein such ethical areas as the psychologist's responsibility to guardagainst misuse of professional influence; the psychologist's responsibilityto avoid harm; the psychologist's responsibility to recognize personalproblems and conflicts that may interfere with professional behaviorand to take appropriate action; the psychologist's responsibilityto perform evaluations and diagnoses only within the context ofa defined professional relationship and based upon accepted professionalstandards; and the psychologist's responsibilities regarding forensicactivities.
Top of Page
2002
GRONDIN, BETSY L.
License Number: PE483
License Type: Psychological Examiner
Case Number: PSY-185
Disposition: Consent Agreement dated 7/31/02
Summary: Licensee admitted that she failed to present evidence ofsatisfactory completion of 40 continuing professional educationunits for her license renewal. Licensee agreed to a reprimand. Theboard extended licensee's time for compliance to August 17, 2002and agreed to renew her license upon receipt of documentation ofcompletion.
Top of Page
2001
HAMRICK-BURWELL, Liane
License Number: PS800
License Type: Psychologist
Case Number: PSY-145, PSY-155, PSY-165
Disposition: Consent Agreement dated 6/19/01
Summary: Complaints alleged that licensee committed multiple breachesof confidentiality; that licensee employed a current client; thatafter treating woman and her husband for marital issues, licenseethen treated minor child of that marriage and the ex-husband withoutwoman's consent, and later testified in favor of the ex-husbandand against the woman in a custody matter involving the minor childwithout the woman's permission or input; that licensee did not keepher client records stored in a professional manner, but had themscattered about her kitchen, under beds, and in open milk crates;that licensee offered to testify favorably to an individual in onematter if that individual testified favorably to licensee in anothermatter; and that licensee accepted a large monetary loan of over$1000 from a then current client. Licensee neither admitted nordenied the allegations, but withdrew her pending renewal applicationand agreed that she will never seek licensure as a psychologistor psychological examiner again in Maine.
LICHTMAN, SUSAN L.
License Number: PS802
License Type: Psychologist
Case Number: None
Disposition: Letter dated 2/6/01
Summary: Notice of ineligibility for renewal due to licensee's noncompliancewith a legal order of tax payment issued by Maine Revenue Services.
Top of Page
2000
SHERMAN, Forrest A.
License Number: PS807
License Type: Psychologist
Case Number: PSY-136
Disposition: Board Order dated 6/13/00
Summary: Licensee caused harm to his client by permitting client'sdaughter to form a relationship with him and to live in his home,in spite of client's objections and distress. Licensee was issueda censure and a reprimand and put on probation for one year. Duringperiod of probation licensee is only allowed to practice under thesupervision of another Maine licensed psychologist and must meetface-to-face with the supervisor on a weekly basis. Licensee wasalso ordered to complete an additional twenty hours of continuingeducation units concerning psychological ethics and boundaries.
Top of Page
Last Updated:
April 30, 2009
