Maine medical board permanently revokes psychiatrist John Dorn’s license for sexual violations with patients

On May 10, 2011, the Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine reprimanded psychiatrist John M. Dorn and permanently revoked his license based on several sexual incidents and boundary violations with patients.

According to the Board’s Consent Order, on Dorn’s 2007 application for licensure in Maine, he indicated that in 1990, while practicing in South Carolina, the estranged husband of a former patient claimed that Dorn accepted an invitation from his wife to have drinks, followed by sexual intercourse.

The Maine Board found that despite this admission, Dorn failed to disclose the finding by the Board of Medical Examiners of South Carolina that he had engaged in sexual misconduct with a then-current patient which whom the physician-patient relationship had not been terminated until after the sexual misconduct came to light, as evidenced by records which show that he had written two prescriptions for the patient on the same date as the sexual misconduct. The South Carolina Board suspended his license for six months.

In August 1991, the Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine accepted the surrender of his license based on the same misconduct. The Maine Board received complaints in September 2009 and February 2010 from two other patients or their family member, alleging improprieties and boundary violations with two female patients. In one instance, he sent e-mails to a married patient expressing romantic and sexual feelings towards her.

Source: Consent Agreement in re: John M. Dorn, M.D., Complaint Nos. CR09-439/CR10-099/CR11-163, State of Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine.

Fugitive counselor, convicted of sex crime against child, arrested in Toronto, awaiting extradition

A counselor from Contra Costa County, California wanted for sex crimes against a child has been arrested by the Toronto Police Service Fugitive Squad as he left a house in Brampton Wednesday morning.

According to reports the fugitive Tajinder Singh Bedi had fled while on trial for child molestation of two former patients in 2008. Bedi, 38, was convicted in the United States for two counts of sexual assault, lewd or lascivious act with a child under 14 years old.

His conviction came four days after he was reported missing. He was sentenced to more than eight years. Additional sentencing for his flight may also be added.

Mercury News reported on the flight of Bedi: “In all my years, it was the first time that one of my defendants failed to show up at trial,” said Pittsburg police Detective Eric Solzman, an officer for 22 years. He fled California, arriving in Toronto on March 1, 2011. Since that time he has traveled to Montreal. Bedi was found by the Fugitive Squad Wednesday morning living in Brampton where he was arrested as he left the home. He is being held in the West Detention Centre, awaiting extradition.

Source: K.J. Mullins, “U.S. fugitive arrested by Toronto Police,” Digital Journal, April 20, 2011

Psychiatrist Philip Pryjma surrenders license on charges of sex with male former patient

On April 15, 2011, psychiatrist Philip J. Pryjma surrendered his license to the New York State Department of Health Board for Professional Medical Conduct.

This action was based on Pryjma resigning his license in the state of Massachusetts, in the face of allegations of a sexual relationship with a male former patient.

Source: Surrender Order in the Matter of Philip Joseph Pryjma, M.D., BPMC No 11-85, New York State Department of Health Board for Professional Medical Conduct.

State revokes license of psychiatrist Michael P. Anthony for sex with patient

On April 20, 2011, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine revoked the license of psychiatrist Michael P. Anthony.

The Board found that Anthony practiced medicine while impaired, had and inappropriate sexual relationship with the patient and committed breaches of confidentiality.

Source: “State Board of Medicine takes disciplinary action,” press release of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine, April 20, 2011.