Psychiatrists investigated for failing to report child sex abuse

Prosecutors are investigating whether psychiatrists at Massachusetts General Hospital violated state law by failing to report sexual abuse by priests in the 1990s, the Boston Herald has learned. The probe focuses on whether a panel of MGH psychiatrists called the Priest Treaters Group, which met to discuss at least 17 clergy abusers from 1994 to 1997, ignored the state's mandated reporting statute. That law requires certain parties -- including physicians -- to report all suspicions of child abuse to law enforcement authorities.

"It is my hope their acts will be prosecutable," said Susan Gallagher of Medford, a victims' advocate with the Coalition of Catholics and Survivors who provided information that launched the Suffolk investigation. "But even if they aren't judged criminal, they should be exposed to the public."

Gallagher said she provided Assistant Suffolk District Attorney David N. Deakin, who runs his office's sex crimes unit, with deposition transcripts from a key MGH doctor and other data she said support a case against the psychiatrists. "He was very interested and he is investigating," she said.

A law enforcement source has confirmed the investigation.