Psychiatrist Behind Bars After Bail Security Withdrawn For Assault And Uttering Threats.

Dr. Larry Anderson, a psychiatrist who was found guilty of three counts of indecent or sexual assault involving three female patients over several years by a jury trial in July, 2005 has been behind bars since September 27 because his bail security was withdrawn when he was charged with two counts of assault and two counts of uttering threats on Sept 7 and Sept 14 in the Princeton, British Columbia area. (Court case # 31377). Since his conviction in July, Dr. Anderson has been free to walk the streets, but now has to await his sentencing hearing for his July 2005 conviction and a bail hearing for his more recent charges in a Penticton, British Columbia jail cell. The sentencing hearing for his July conviction is tentatively fixed for November 18, 2005. Anderson is not the only psychiatrist in the world who has been found to sexually assault woman patients. 16 other psychiatrists have lost their license to practice worldwide in just the past 3 months making it a possible case of one psychiatrist losing their license every week for sexual related incidents with woman patients or in one case a child female patient. According to evidence given during the Anderson trial, The Doctor once put sexual instructions on what a female patient thought was a prescription for anti-depressant drugs. The prescription read: “Take one erection and put it in an appropriate space. Do what is needed to obtain satisfaction”. Brian Beaumont, spokesperson for the British Columbia chapter of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights said, “Psychiatric sexual assault is a very common occurrence over the world, but all too often the perpetrator is only slapped on the wrist by being given a fine or suspension from practice. Over 300 psychiatrists, psychologists and mental health professionals worldwide have been criminally convicted of sex crimes in the last 27 years according to various court documents and media reports gathered by chapters of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights over the world. Hundreds of others have lost their licenses in that same time period. These figures do not take into account women who have been reluctant to file charges or who were unwilling or unable to come forward”. A 1997 Canadian study of psychiatrists revealed that of the 10% that admitted to sexually abusing their patients, 80% were repeat offenders. Many had undergone personal analysis or psychotherapy in an unsuccessful effort to rehabilitate themselves. The complaint processes carried out by various medial boards and colleges are thwarted, in part, by the belief that psychiatrists are somehow above the law and above reproach. However, evidence shows, a woman is at a very great risk of being sexually assaulted while in a psychiatrist's office. Studies show that between 6% and 13% of psychiatrists and psychologists sexually abuse their patients and, according to one American Journal of Psychiatry study, 80% of psychiatrists reporting sexual contact did so with an average of six patients. According to a 2001 study, "Sex Between Therapists and Clients," by Kenneth Pope, a former head of the ethics committee for the American Psychological Association, 1 out of 20 clients who had been sexually abused by their therapist was a minor, the average age being 7 for girls and 12 for boys. The youngest child was 3. The Citizens Commission on Human Rights was established by the Church of Scientology to investigate and expose psychiatric violations of human rights. If you know anyone, including a child, who has been abused or harmed by a psychiatrist call the Citizens Commission on Human Rights at 1 800 670 2247. Complete confidentiality assured.