Something is Wrong In the State of Missouri

Keepers have been waiting 7 long years from when they first reported their former therapist to the State Committee of Psychologists for inappropriate and unprofessional behavior. Seven long years of him asking for and receiving at least 3 continuances, then the dispositions, the state investigators asking questions, the former therapist still contacting keepers, trying to talk them out of their suit, then the assistant Attorney General telling them how important it was to see this through, going to the state capital for the hearing which he did not even show up for!! Why you ask? Because his attorneys told him he had no chance of winning, the evidence was overwhelming. Even after the hearing it took another 7 months just to get the formal decision, guilty on 4 counts, then another wait for the discipline hearing in December of this past year and then another 6 weeks of waiting for the final discipline. The Attorney General told us they were asking that he be severely sentenced, and today we received the official sentence, 3 years suspended license and 5 years probation. His suspension is less than half the time keepers waited for this entire process to take.
Then he can go back to seeing patients. No mention of any other limitations, none whatsoever.

What follows is my letter to the Executive Director of the Committee:

Pamela G

Executive Director

Missouri State Committee of Psychologists

3605 Missouri Blvd.

P.O. Box 1335

Jefferson City, Mo. 65102-1335

Dear Ms. G

This is to advise you and the State Committee of Psychologists that the 17 years of inept
and devious therapy, which was upheld in testimony of my wife and the expert witness, as well as the 7 years of waiting while Mr. F got continuance after continuance because things were not convenient for him, has in my opinion, not been fairly evaluated in his disciplinary hearing.

What he has received, in my opinion, is a slap on the wrist and is in no way commensurate with what he did or what his actions did or what his intent was. I am severely disappointed in the final outcome and at this point in time see little benefit in what my wife has gone through to see this entire process to it’s climax.

To her credit she never gave up, she believed in justice prevailing, and we knew in our hearts she was not the only patient he gave inadequate services to and assumed the state would take that into consideration in their investigation but it appears we were wrong.

When one considers that he did not even show up to defend himself because his attorneys advised he could not win, and this is the extent of the discipline, I can see why he did not bother, with discipline like this one can return quite soon and be back behind the desk handing out inadequate therapy in just a few years.

I have no questions, only regret. At least my wife can hold her head high, and be respected and applauded by her peers for standing up and trying to right a wrong . . .

can the committee?

Sincerely

John W