A storm is brewing in Kansas over the passive corruption in the State Medical Board. Obviously, somebody is not doing their job, and the people of Kansas are suffering for it. We highlight a psychiatric case on misconduct in the report, there are others mentioned at the link. As seen in this report.
Too slow to act when doctors misbehave, and far too lenient when it does impose discipline.
Those were complaints raised repeatedly in testimony last week before state lawmakers about the Kansas board that regulates doctors.
The Kansas State Board of Healing Arts has come under intense scrutiny since it came to light that the board did not suspend the license of Stephen Schneider, a Haysville doctor accused of running a “pill mill,” until more than a month after federal criminal charges had been filed against him.
Witnesses testifying before the state Senate’s Health Strategies Committee last week said the board also had reacted sluggishly to other alleged problems.
On Tuesday, board officials will present their side to lawmakers, said committee chairwoman Sen. Susan Wagle, a Wichita Republican.
Andrew Jacobs, a psychologist from Leawood, told the committee Wednesday that he had filed a complaint with the board in 2003 against Overland Park psychiatrist Douglas Geenens.
Jacobs said Geenens had a sexual relationship with his wife, who was Geenens’ patient at the time.
In 2004, the board publicly censured Geenens, suspended his medical license for a week and ordered him to submit to supervision of his practice for at least two years by another doctor.
Jacobs told lawmakers the punishment was inadequate, and that since then, he has alerted the board to other claims against Geenens — only to see nothing happen.
“They don’t share with you what is going on. … Once you file a case, you are left out in the cold,” Jacobs said.
Geenens’ former partner, Rory Murphy, told the committee that the board’s decision shocked him because it was so slight compared to the offense.
“I really couldn’t comprehend the decision of the board,” said Murphy, an Overland Park psychiatrist.
Jacobs and Murphy said it was unethical for a therapist to have a sexual relationship with a current or former patient because patients could be easily exploited. Jacobs said he would like to see a law that would make it illegal for doctors to have sex with their patients.
Sen. Phil Journey, a Haysville Republican, said he believes such a law would be a good idea, pointing out that it is illegal for teachers to have sex with students. Extending the law to medical professionals makes sense, he said.
The telephone was disconnected at Geenens’ most recent known office address, and The Star was unable to contact him for comment.
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