How Anna Nicole Smith's Shrink Got Her Pink Slip

Normally we don't do celebrity gossip, but you have to wonder about the professional ethics of the former psychiatrist for the now tragically dead Anna Nicole Smith. As seen on Fox 411

Here's a little more info on psychiatrist Khristine Eroshevich, friend of Anna Nicole Smith and a cameo player in the "Entertainment Tonight" video extravaganza of Smith's now-historic red carpet funeral.

Only in Los Angeles do psychiatrists suddenly pop up as best friends of their patients. It's unclear whether or not Eroshevich actually saw Smith as a patient or if she was just a hanger-on who got close to her in her later years.

This much is certain: It's Eroshevich's mug in the "ET" videos of the funeral, and all its tacky preparations. The good doctor happily gave quotes to the TV show, which sources say paid millions to Howard K. Stern for the right to have a landmark ceiling camera hovering over Smith's casket as it was rolled into the Bahamian church.

But back home, Eroshevich isn't all that popular with the other less famous people with whom she used to work.

At the Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association (LACERA), Eroshevich's professional issues cropped up right away. On July 7, 2006, the doctor was stripped of her job for failing to perform her duties properly.

From the Board of Retirement minutes:

"Recommendation to terminate the services of Board Panel Psychiatrist Khristine Eroshevich, M.D., Ph.D. (Memo dated July 7, 2006):

"Mr. [James] Castranova [the board's legal counsel] gave a brief explanation of the recommendation to terminate Dr. Eroshevich's services. It was noted that on two occasions, Dr. Eroshevich arranged for psychologists to conduct fact-to-face examination of LACERA members, which is a violation of the agreement between LACERA and Dr. Eroshevich, when only Board Certified Physicians are allowed to conduct these examinations.

"A motion was made by Mr. Russin, seconded by Mr. Chery, to approve the recommendation. The Legal Office, at the request of Mr. Russin, will review Dr. Eroshevich's invoices to ensure that charges are proper. The Legal Office will report its findings and any recommendations to the Insurance, Benefits and Legislative Committee. The motion passed with Mr. Macias abstaining."

James Castranova, whom I spoke with yesterday, confirmed that Dr. Eroshevich farmed out her duties to other shrinks in violation of her agreement.

In other words, she was sending unqualified doctors to interview members of LACERA when she was supposed to be doing the work herself.

LACERA spokesman Gregg Rademacher told me it's the first time he can remember that his organization had a physician who farmed out their job to other professionals, only to be caught later.

Calls to Eroshevich at two California offices with answering machines were not returned.

What also remains unclear is whether or not Eroshevich — who seemed to be an expert on Anna Nicole Smith on television — knew of the dead model's drug habits and those of her son, Daniel, and whether she tried to do anything about it.