Citizens Commission on Human Rights of Florida (CCHR Florida)

Sun Sentinel

FloriDUH

Weird, wacky, strange news from the Sunshine State

Psychologist accused of bigamy after marrying a patient

By Barbara Hijek

August 24, 2010

Jeffrey Lynn Benoit former Florida State Psychologist

Jeffrey Lynn Benoit, a former Florida State Hospital psychologist, is accused of having sexual relations with a patient he was treating there, then marrying her while he was still married to someone else, reports the Jackson County Floridian in Marianna. (more…)

Psych News
Psychologist agrees to cease practicing
By Ken Kramer

Jun 1st, 2010

In a case that gained national notoriety, a Tampa psychologist, Daniel R. Lerom, has relinquished his license.

According to an administrative complaint filed by the Department of Health, Lerom had an inappropriate sexual relationship with a female patient. Throughout their sexual relationship, Lerom regulary asked the patient to give him her prescription drugs. He also billed her insurance company for the sexual encounters.

In January, the Department of Health filed an emergency suspension order on Lerom’s license.

The patient filed a lawsuit against Lerom in Hillsborough County Court, but further records are unavailable as the case is now sealed.

Lerom voluntarily agreed to cease practicing psychology in Florida and also agreed to never reapply for a Florida healthcare license.

Sex with a patient is a felony in Florida.

Lakeland Ledger

Psychologist Agrees to Give Up License to Avoid Disciplinary Action Involving Sexual Harassment

June 1, 2010

A Tampa psychologist has relinquished his license to practice in Florida to avoid further state disciplinary action involving an accusation he had sex with a Lakeland woman he counseled.

Daniel R. Lerom also was accused of billing the woman’s insurance company for “specialty consult” sessions at times when those trysts were suspected to have occurred.

He was also accused of repeatedly asking for, and getting, prescription pain medicines from her.

The state suspended his license in January.

In giving up his psychology license, Lerom agreed never to apply for a license to practice a health-care profession licensed by the Florida Department of Health.

The story on the Florida psychiatrist (sentenced to 16 years yesterday) so far appears on over 130 newspaper sites and also in Canada, Australia, Taiwan, Korea and the Philippines.

Jerome Feldman, Former Psychiatrist

  (more…)

Miami Herald
Florida suspends Miami psychiatrist in boy’s overdose death

State health administrators have suspended the license of a Miami psychiatrist who treated a disabled preteen boy who died of overmedication.

BY CAROL MARBIN MILLER

May 13, 2010

Denis Maltez, left, poses for a picture in the park

PART 2 OF 4

(more…)

Denis Martez and mother, Martha Quesada

The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s Office attributed the death to a life-threatening side effect of over-medication. In his deposition, Maltez’s psychiatrist Dr. Steven Kaplan said he is not responsible for Denis’ death. “I don’t believe he died of anything that I did,” he said.

Miami Herald

Controversial Miami psychiatrist dropped from Medicaid program State health administrators have terminated a controversial Miami psychiatrist from the state’s insurance program for disabled and needy children. (more…)

Miami Herald

Red flags overlooked in prescription drug death of 12-year-old
BY CAROL MARBIN MILLER

April 18, 2010

Denis Martez and mother, Martha Quesada

Born with autism, 12-year-old Denis Maltez was “hyper, needy, pesty,” his psychiatrist wrote following a May 2007 visit. 

Dr. Steven L. Kaplan solved the 70-pound boy’s problems with a prescription pad, writing orders for two different anti-psychotic drugs along with a tranquilizer and a mood stabilizer – three of them in the highest doses recommended for adults, records show. 

When state medical regulators sent Kaplan letters suggesting the dosages were worrisome, he ignored them. (more…)

“An act relating to the provision of psychotropic medication to children in out-of-home placements; amending s. 39.407, F.S.; requiring the provision of a comprehensive mental health treatment plan; specifying eligibility; prescribing duties for the Department of Children and Family Services; deleting provisions relating to the provision of psychotropic medications to children in out-of-home care…”

Full Article and audio clip on the status of the Gabriel Myers Bill: http://www.flsenate.gov/data/session/2010/Senate/bills/billtext/pdf/s2718c2.pdf

The Senators in the below two videos pushed to move the Gabriel Myers bill – now it’s your turn.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17iqUsACRZM  and  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSav5qxXPkY

The Gabriel Myers bill passed the Senate Judiciary committee yesterday! .

Now – please e-mail and phone the below 3 House Representatives and urge them to schedule the Gabriel Myers bill, House Bill 1567 for a hearing.

Representative Larry Cretul – Speaker of the House 

Larry.Cretul@myfloridahouse.gov

Phone: (850) 488-1450

Phone: (352) 873-6564

  (more…)

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17iqUsACRZM  Florida Senators criticize child drugging

http://cbs4.com/local/florida.legislators.legislation.2.1629212.html 

Bill Looks to Curb Medicating State Foster Kids

Bill Is Named For 7-Year-Old Gabriel Myers

By Lisa Cilli

Apr 13, 2010

Florida lawmakers are scheduled to discuss a measure Tuesday designed to curb the prescription of mental-health drugs to children in state care. Senate Bill 2718, also known as the Gabriel Myers Bill, would allow officials to more closely monitor the powerful psychiatric drugs dispensed to Florida foster care children. (more…)