Minnesota psychiatrist reprimanded by Medical Board

From the Star Tribune

Dr. Larry Berger, an Eden Prairie psychiatrist, has been reprimanded by the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice for having an improper sexual relationship with a former patient.

Berger, 56, was cited for inappropriate conduct in a settlement agreement he reached with the board.

According to the agreement released Wednesday, Berger and a former patient he had treated irregularly for six years started chatting anonymously on the Internet in January 2005. He had treated the patient for the last time about eight months earlier, according to the board document.

After the patient and Berger decided that their physician-patient relationship had ended, they commenced a sexual relationship.

In January 2006, the board received a complaint about Berger.

Board officials said there are no specific rules regarding personal relationships between doctors and patients. If a complaint is made, the disciplinary board determines whether such relationships are inappropriate on a case-by-case basis, officials said.

The board takes into consideration the vulnerability of the patient and the speciality of the physician. Some specialities, like psychiatry, may be held to a different standard than others, officials said.

As part of the settlement, Berger agreed to take an education course on personal boundaries, meet quarterly with a board member and pay a fine of $1,620.