Thursday, October 18, 2007

Former head of McLean Psychiatric Hospital permanently surrenders Massachusetts medical license

Via the Worcester Telegram and Gazette

The former president of McLean Hospital, who acknowledged to regulators in his home state of New York that he had inappropriate sexual contact with a patient, has permanently surrendered his right to practice medicine in Massachusetts, the state Board of Registration in Medicine said Wednesday.

Dr. Jack Gorman, 55, a well-known psychiatrist, abruptly resigned his post at the prestigious psychiatric hospital in suburban Belmont in May 2006 after only four months on the job. At the time, he said he was resigning for personal and medical reasons.

Last month, Gorman signed a consent decree with regulators in his home state of New York, admitting he was negligent when he had inappropriate sexual contact with a female patient on more than one occasion. Officials in New York did not release details, citing confidentiality laws. The Boston Globe has reported the relationship was with a patient at his practice in New York.

Gorman's New York attorney, Anthony Scher, did not immediately return a call seeking comment Wednesday night. Gorman has said in a statement to the Globe he has taken responsibility for his conduct and hopes to continue to make contributions to the field of psychiatry.

Under the New York order, Gorman can request that his license there be reinstated after six months. If his license is restored, he would face five years of probation under the supervision of another doctor.

Gorman's Massachusetts license expired in September 2006. His decision to resign his right to renew it permanently removes him from practice in the state, the board said.

Before taking the job at McLean, Gorman became known at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City as a leading researcher on anxiety disorders, depression and schizophrenia. He received his medical license in New York in 1978.

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