Expertise in Child Abuse?

Dr. Woods, from a YouTube video

Mike Hixenbaugh & Taylor Mirfendereski
NBCnews.com
Originally posted 14 Feb 20

Here is an excerpt:

Contrary to Woods’ testimony, there are more than 375 child abuse pediatricians certified by the American Board of Pediatrics in the U.S., all of whom have either completed an extensive fellowship program — first offered, not three, but nearly 15 years ago, while Woods was still in medical school — or spent years examining cases of suspected abuse prior to the creation of the medical subspecialty in 2009. The doctors are trained to differentiate accidental from inflicted injuries, which child abuse pediatricians say makes them better qualified than other doctors to determine whether a child has been abused. At least three physicians have met those qualifications and are practicing as board-certified child abuse pediatricians in the state of Washington.

Woods is not one of them.

Despite her lack of fellowship training, state child welfare and law enforcement officials in Washington have granted Woods remarkable influence over their decisions about whether to remove children from parents or pursue criminal charges, NBC News and KING 5 found. In four cases reviewed by reporters, child welfare workers took children from parents based on Woods’ reports — including some in which Woods misstated key facts, according to a review of records — despite contradictory opinions from other medical experts who said they saw no evidence of abuse.

In one instance, a pediatrician, Dr. Niran Al-Agba, insisted that a 2-year-old child’s bruise matched her parents’ description of an accidental fall onto a heating grate in their home. But Child Protective Services workers, who’d gotten a call from the child’s day care after someone noticed the bruise, asked Woods to look at photos of the injury.

Woods reported that the mark was most likely the result of abuse, even though she’d never seen the child in person or talked to the parents. The agency sided with her. To justify that decision, the Child Protective Services worker described Woods as “a physician with extensive training and experience in regard to child abuse and neglect,” according to a written report reviewed by reporters.

The info is here.

King Introduces End-of-Life Counseling Bill

Jan 11, 2017
Press Release

Congressman Steve King released the following statement after re-introducing the End-of-Life Counseling Bill:

“A year ago this month, the government increased control over one of the most highly personal healthcare decisions an individual can make when the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) began paying doctors to counsel patients about end-of-life care,” said King. “Allowing the federal government to marry its need to save dollars with the promotion of end-of-life counseling is not in the interest of millions of Americans who were promised life-sustaining care in their older years in exchange for their compelled funding of the program during their working years.

Furthermore, this exact provision was removed from the final draft of Obamacare in 2009 as a direct result of public outcry. The worldview behind the policy has not changed since then and government control over this intimate choice is still intolerable to those who respect the dignity of human life. My legislation prohibits Medicare payments for end-of-life counseling, blocking this harmful regulation before our government imposes yet another life-devaluing policy on the American people. ”

The bill is here.

"Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you." -Pericles

Episode 12: Prescriptive Authority Illinois Style

Dr. Beth Rom-Rymer from Illinois speaks with John about  the recent RxP success in Illinois. Psychologists advocated passing a law to permit appropriately trained psychologist to prescribe psychotropic agents.  Beth shares many words of wisdom, including reasons for psychologists obtaining prescriptive authority, keys to advocacy, and the details of the prescriptive authority law in Illinois.  While John laments that Pennsylvania may be in the Precontemplative stage of change, Beth offers numerous suggestions to any state moving in a forward direction on RxP legislation.

The Skype connection was not the best, so apologies in advance for any technical flaws.

In terms of learning objectives, at the end of the podcast, the listener will be able to:

1.      Describe two reasons why psychologists are seeking prescriptive authority;
2.      Explain the educational requirements of becoming a prescribing psychologist in Illinois; and,
3.      Describe two important components to passing legislation on prescriptive authority.

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To earn 1-APA approved Continuing Education Credit, click here.

Click to listen directly below




Resources

Updated Prescriptive Authority Law Enacted
American Psychological Association

Ethics and Psychology Resources on Prescribing Psychologists/Medical Psychologists

APA Resources on the RxP movement

Paulucci psychologist suspended, fined $50K by state board

A Minnesota psychologist who charged thousands of dollars to organize a client’s closets, attend a funeral and visit a gravesite — and accepted dozens of expensive gifts from the client, Gina Paulucci of Wayzata — was suspended indefinitely and fined $50,000 for her actions, according to a Minnesota Board of Psychology order made public this week.

by Jane Friedman
Minneapolis Star Tribune

Originally published May 25, 2012

A Roseville psychologist who charged thousands of dollars to organize a client’s closets, attend a funeral and visit a gravesite — and accepted dozens of expensive gifts from the client, Gina Paulucci of Wayzata — was suspended indefinitely and fined $50,000 for her actions, according to a Minnesota Board of Psychology order made public this week.

Kathryne Sanders, 63, acknowledged in an interview that her professional relationship with the client went over the line, but said her career as a psychologist is likely over, so she won’t have to pay the record fine due upon reinstatement.

State law requires psychologists to observe strict boundaries between professional and personal relationships, and Sanders said “there were definitely issues there. But I also think this is something that is extremely common. I just don’t think it’s deserving of the penalty that I received.”

The entire story is here.