Former President of nationally known McLean Psychiatric Hospital admits sexual contact with patient - State orders investigation.

It appears one psychiatrist has had a conscience attack, turning himself in for molesting a patient. He may need psycho-surgery to remove his conscience, although there is hope that the manifestation of a conscience can be suppressed with the right medications, so that he can return to normal professional life.... [JOKE!] Mclean Hospital is a nationally known psychiatric research hospital, and is also responsible for the training and education of many psychiatrists.

As reported in the Boston Herald, see also this Boston Globe report

The former president of McLean Hospital has admitted he had inappropriate sexual contact with a patient and has surrendered his medical license for at least six months.

Dr. Jack Gorman, a well-known psychiatrist, abruptly resigned his post at the prestigious psychiatric hospital in 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.

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

Claudia Hutton, a spokeswoman for the New York Department of Health, said Gorman reported himself to the New York Board for Professional Medical Conduct.

"It is unusual for somebody to self-report, but it is a wise move," Hutton said. "Moral unfitness is something that in the New York community, we just won’t tolerate."

Hutton said she could not provide any details on the patient or Gorman’s relationship with her, citing confidentiality laws.

Gorman’s New York attorney, Anthony Scher, did not immediately return a call seeking comment Wednesday.

In a statement issued to The Boston Globe, Gorman said he has taken responsibility for his conduct and hopes to continue to make contributions to the field of psychiatry.

"I have stepped forward and voluntarily acknowledged any mistake I have made and, in doing so, have paid a huge personal price," Gorman said.

"I accept the consequences, but remain proud of my 30-year career of outstanding academic and clinical service and research."

Before taking the job at McLean, Gorman had made a name for himself 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.

The Boston Globe reports that the State is ordering an investigation into the psychiatrist

The Department of Public Health directed McLean Hospital yesterday to investigate whether its former president, Dr. Jack M. Gorman, sexually abused any patients at the hospital, one day after his medical license was indefinitely suspended in New York for "inappropriate sexual contact" with an unidentified patient.

Gorman resigned abruptly from the Harvard-affiliated hospital in May 2006 for what the hospital said were "personal and medical reasons." Gorman later admitted to New York medical regulators that he had been having an improper relationship with a patient that precipitated a personal crisis, culminating in a suicide attempt.

The Board for Professional Medical Conduct in New York has not revealed where the sexual contact with the patient occurred; an official would say only that it happened on multiple occasions. However, Gorman practiced primarily in New York City, and worked as a psychiatrist at McLean for only about four months before he quit.

"We are contacting McLean Hospital and asking them to conduct an investigation and report back to us," said Donna Rheaume, spokeswoman for the Department of Public Health. "Our concern is the health and safety of the patients at the facilities we are licensing."

The agency learned of Gorman's sexual misconduct when it was reported in the Globe yesterday, and officials want to ensure that any victims are receiving proper care, Rheaume said.

Yesterday, officials at Partners HealthCare, the parent organization of McLean, as well as hospital board members declined to say what they knew about Gorman's problems when he resigned. He initially took a medical leave in mid-April after a suicide attempt, but McLean officials were saying publicly that they expected him to return to his job only two days before he quit.

"The hope is really to put this behind us," said Partners spokeswoman Petra Langer, pointing out that McLean has named a new president, Scott L. Rauch. She said she had not heard about the state's request for an investigation into Gorman's conduct while he was at McLean.

Word that Gorman had admitted to sexual misconduct came as a shock to many at McLean, including some who worked directly for him. One Partners official, who asked not to be named because of the sensitivity of the case, said people felt betrayed by Gorman's misconduct and were upset that it caused so much upheaval in leadership of the hospital.

An associate of Gorman who asked not to be named said that the doctor concealed his misconduct from the McLean board of directors and other officials.

"He didn't want to embarrass one of the greatest teaching hospitals in the country," the associate said.

Instead, Gorman returned to New York and reported the misconduct to regulators there.