Texas Medical Board hands out meger $5,000 dollar penalty for psychiatrist sex with patient.

As Reported on the East Texas Matters Website, an announcement from the Texas Medical Board which can also be found here (PDF)

On April 10, 2015, the Board and Fermin Briones, jr., M.D., entered into an Agreed Order publicly reprimanding Dr. Briones and requiring him to within 30 days undergo

an independent medical evaluation and

follow all recommendations for care and treatment;

within one year and three attempts pass the medical jurisprudence exam;

within one year complete at least 16 hours of in-person cme, divided as follows:

1. eight hours in ethics and
2. eight hours in HIPAA compliance;

and pay an administrative penalty of $5,000 within 90 days.

The board found Dr. Briones engaged in unprofessional conduct

by having a sexual relationship with a patient and

continuing to have inappropriate contact with the patient after the filing of the complaint alleging a sexual relationship had occurred with the patient; and

violated state and federal patient confidentiality laws through his filing of a lawsuit seeking a restraining order against the patient.

The initial Texas Medical Board report can be found here

Briones, Fermin, Jr., M.D., Lic. No. N0660, San Antonio On January 29, 2015 a disciplinary panel of the Texas Medical Board temporarily suspended, with notice, the Texas medical license of Fermin Briones, Jr., M.D., a San Antonio psychiatrist, after determining his continuation in the practice of medicine poses a continuing threat to public welfare. The suspension was effective immediately. The Board panel found that on June 6, 2014, a report with the Alamo Heights Police Department was filed alleging that Dr. Briones had initiated and nurtured a sexual relationship with a patient. Physical evidence, including videos, emails, and texts messages, demonstrate there was a sexual relationship. Dr. Briones continued to communicate with the patient via email and attempted to persuade her to not participate in the Board proceedings. On December 30, 2014, Dr. Briones sent an email to the patient threatening to report her to her professional licensing board should she continue to participate in the proceedings against him at the Board. The temporary suspension remains in place until the Board takes further action.

Here is a previous local TV news report