Psychiatrist banned for sex with patient

Psychiatrist banned for sex with patient

13:56 AEDT Mon May 7 2012
Isabel Hayes


A psychiatrist who had sex with a patient, took an ecstasy tablet with her and gave her about $20,000, has been disqualified for 18 months by the NSW Medical Tribunal.

Neil Schultz had a four-day sexual relationship with his patient in June 2009, despite knowing she was "vulnerable", the tribunal said in its judgment handed down on Monday.

The tribunal heard Schultz, who practised in Richmond, northwest of Sydney, had previously been found guilty of professional misconduct in 2002 after he had a sexual relationship with a patient in 1998.

Schultz treated a then 25-year-old woman between March 2008 and January 2009, diagnosing her with a borderline personality disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Schultz told the tribunal he met the woman late at night in his office on June 5, 2009, and she gave him an ecstasy tablet, which he took.

They then had sex and embarked on a sexual relationship which lasted around four days.

Schultz also employed the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, between December 2008 and June 2009, bought her a car and gave her about $20,000.

Schultz told the tribunal the woman's salary amounted to $20,000, but the tribunal found this was "unsustainable" as she only worked 16 hours a week and was paid $18 an hour.

The tribunal found Schultz failed to refer the woman to another psychiatrist after they ceased consultations in January 2009, and wrote her 37 prescriptions for antipsychotic medications and other drugs during the next eight months.

Schultz said the reason he did not end their professional relationship was because she would have been "extremely angry".

The tribunal found there was "clear failure to adhere to professional boundaries by providing (the patient) with charity by offering her food, money, employment and subsequently engaging in a sexual relationship with her".

"Clearly (the patient) was vulnerable at the commencement of the therapeutic relationship and (Schultz) should have been alert to this situation," the judgment said.

He also prescribed the drug dexamphetamine when he "knew or ought to have known (the patient) had a history of abuse of drugs", the tribunal said.

It found Schultz had failed to provide adequate medical care to the patient, failed to maintain appropriate professional boundaries and failed to protect patient confidentiality.

His registration was disqualified for 18 months and he was ordered to pay the costs of the Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC), which brought the complaint against him.

Schultz, who closed his practice in June last year, said he was "extremely remorseful" and "deeply ashamed" of his actions and "grateful that the situation did not lead to a terrible outcome for my patient".

Nystyle709 wrote:LOL. I knew the psychiatric game was lucrative, but I had no idea.