“Return to Practice OK’d” for Activist Psychologist
“We all need to
be concerned when psychiatry is used as a weapon rather than as a tool for
mental health.”
By Janet Phelan
In a startling
reversal of fortune, a Sacramento Superior Court judge ruled last Friday to stay
the revocation of activist psychologist Dr. Robert Fettgather’s license to
practice psychology.
Dr. Fettgather’s license had been ordered revoked in May
after he refused to submit to a psychiatric examination ordered by the
California State Psychology Board. The revocation was set to come into force on
July 27. The stay grants Dr. Fettgather permission to work as a licensed
psychologist until the writ requesting the Board’s decision be entirely
overturned can be heard.
Blasting the Psychology Board for launching an action
against Fettgather without justification, Sacramento Superior Court Judge
Timothy Frawley declared that the Board lacked good cause to compel him into a
psychiatric evaluation. Judge Frawley also raised concerns that the
Administrative Law court further denied Fettgather’s right to due process in
refusing to hear any evidence from Fettgather. According to Fettgather’s
attorney, Dr. Bruce Ebert, Frawley also raised questions as to the cavalier
manner in which the Psychology Board had attempted to force Fettgather into a
psychiatric exam.
In an interview July 30, Ebert
stated, “If there was any part of government that should understand the
seriousness of ordering someone to undergo a forced psychiatric exam it should
be the Board which regulates the practice of psychology.” Ebert went on to say,
“We all need to be concerned when psychiatry is used as a weapon rather than as
a tool for mental health.”
Fettgather had run into difficulties last year
when his advocacy for his disabled son, David, who is under a conservatorship
and held in custodial care, raised the ire of a State Assemblyman.
Dr. Fettgather had spoken at a Town Hall meeting and
criticized Assemblyman Jim Beall for failure to follow through on the plight of
David. Assemblyman Beall then made a report to the Dignitaries Protection Unit
of the California Highway Patrol, alleging that Fettgather had threatened him.
The report was investigated and considered to be of no merit, according to the
CHP. However, shortly thereafter the State Psychology Board contacted Dr.
Fettgather and stated that they were investigating
him
Fettgather has a long history of advocacy for the
disabled and mentally ill, going back to the 1970’s.
Housed in the Department
of Consumer Affairs, the State Psychology Board is mandated to investigate
consumer complaints. However, there were no consumer complaints made against
Dr. Fettgather and the Board proceeded with complaints tendered by former
employees of Dr. Fettgather who were apparently disgruntled at the termination
of their employment.
Ebert has called this a victory not only for Dr.
Fettgather but also for the Constitution. Ebert, who has a PhD in psychology
and is a four- term former president of the State Psychology Board, said “Dr.
Fettgather is a good man and a good psychologist.”
Russ Heimerich, the
spokesperson for the Department of Consumer Affairs, issued a terse “no
comment.” The press office for the California Department of Justice, which
prosecuted this matter, claimed that the AG was only representing its client—the
Psychology Board– according to the client’s wishes.
The California Medical
Board was contacted for comment on allegations that this Board has also issued
an Administrative subpoena for Dr. Ebert to be psychologically evaluated. Laura
Sweet, who allegedly signed the subpoena, has declined to comment, citing
privacy laws.
For more information on this story, please visit:
http://www.veteranstoday.com/2012/05/14/california-state-psychology-board-launches-psychiatric-probe-of-activist-psychologist/
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