by Mary Elizabeth Dallas
MedicineNet.com
Originally published on July 6, 2012
Psychiatrists who see transgender patients need specific guidelines to help determine the best course of treatment, according to new report from the American Psychiatric Association.
The American Psychiatric Association Task Force on Treatment of Gender Identity Disorder also calls for the psychiatrists' group to clarify its position on the health care and civil rights of people who are transgender or transitioning gender, meaning they are in the process of changing their gender through hormones and surgery.
The entire story is here.
The guidelines from the American Psychiatric Association are here.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Appeals Court Rejects Student's Lawsuit Over Alleged Harassment by Professor
By Libby Sander
The Chronicle of Higher Education
Originally published July 10, 2012
Student workers who are sexually harassed on the job do not enjoy a higher standard of protection under federal employment law than do workers in other employment settings, a federal appeals court ruled on Tuesday.
The case involves Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, which the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit concluded is not liable for an undergraduate student's claims of sexual harassment by a prominent emeritus faculty member who was also a major donor.
In a 2-to-1 opinion, a three-judge panel of the appeals court rejected claims by the student, Samuel Milligan, under federal employment law that Southern Illinois created a hostile work and educational environment.
The entire story is here.
The Chronicle of Higher Education
Originally published July 10, 2012
Student workers who are sexually harassed on the job do not enjoy a higher standard of protection under federal employment law than do workers in other employment settings, a federal appeals court ruled on Tuesday.
The case involves Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, which the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit concluded is not liable for an undergraduate student's claims of sexual harassment by a prominent emeritus faculty member who was also a major donor.
In a 2-to-1 opinion, a three-judge panel of the appeals court rejected claims by the student, Samuel Milligan, under federal employment law that Southern Illinois created a hostile work and educational environment.
The entire story is here.
Monday, July 16, 2012
Identifying Perceived Personal Barriers to Public Policy Advocacy Within Psychology
The authors are Amy E. Heinowitz, Kelly R. Brown, Leah C. Langsam, Steven J. Arcidiacono, Paige L. Baker, Nadimeh H. Badaan, Nancy I. Zlatkin, & Ralph E. (Gene) Cash.
Professional Psychology: Research & Practice
There is an urgent and growing need for professional and social justice advocacy within the psychological community (Ratts & Hutchins, 2009; Kiselica & Robinson, 2001; Ratts, D'Andrea, & Arredondo, 2004; Toporek, Gerstein, Fouad, Roysircar, & Israel, 2006). Psychology, as a field as well as a profession, aims to reduce negative treatment outcomes and to enhance personal wellbeing through research and practice (Council of Specialties in Professional Psychology, 2009; American Psychological Association, 2010b). The viability of the profession and its capacity to provide fundamental and essential services are directly affected by legislation and regulations (Barnett, 2004). As a result, advocacy is integral to the roles of all psychologists, with the future and success of their profession and careers depending on their incorporation of advocacy into their professional identity (Burney et al., 2009).
(cut)
The findings presented in this study carry valuable implications for efforts aimed at enhancing participation in advocacy. Lating et al. (2009) suggest that the continued separation of professional and educational agendas in the training of psychologists may contribute to the profession's deficient involvement in advocacy. Specifically, psychology is the only major health profession to maintain an academic training model despite the creation of professional training programs. The lack of advocacy training appears to contribute to the development and maintenance of barriers such as lack of awareness of and lack of perceived competence in discussing public policy issues.
Efforts to increase psychologists' participation in public policy advocacy must begin early on and be integrated throughout their curricula. Pertinent public policy issues fit well into courses on ethics, diversity, assessment, and even intervention. Similarly, discussion about and training in the advocacy role may be reinforced through clinical training and supervision. In addition to incorporated teaching lessons, specific coursework in public policy advocacy might aid students in developing skills used to advocate, while increasing comfort, enhancing familiarity, and expanding knowledge of current issues.
Thanks to Ken Pope for this information.
Professional Psychology: Research & Practice
There is an urgent and growing need for professional and social justice advocacy within the psychological community (Ratts & Hutchins, 2009; Kiselica & Robinson, 2001; Ratts, D'Andrea, & Arredondo, 2004; Toporek, Gerstein, Fouad, Roysircar, & Israel, 2006). Psychology, as a field as well as a profession, aims to reduce negative treatment outcomes and to enhance personal wellbeing through research and practice (Council of Specialties in Professional Psychology, 2009; American Psychological Association, 2010b). The viability of the profession and its capacity to provide fundamental and essential services are directly affected by legislation and regulations (Barnett, 2004). As a result, advocacy is integral to the roles of all psychologists, with the future and success of their profession and careers depending on their incorporation of advocacy into their professional identity (Burney et al., 2009).
(cut)
The findings presented in this study carry valuable implications for efforts aimed at enhancing participation in advocacy. Lating et al. (2009) suggest that the continued separation of professional and educational agendas in the training of psychologists may contribute to the profession's deficient involvement in advocacy. Specifically, psychology is the only major health profession to maintain an academic training model despite the creation of professional training programs. The lack of advocacy training appears to contribute to the development and maintenance of barriers such as lack of awareness of and lack of perceived competence in discussing public policy issues.
Efforts to increase psychologists' participation in public policy advocacy must begin early on and be integrated throughout their curricula. Pertinent public policy issues fit well into courses on ethics, diversity, assessment, and even intervention. Similarly, discussion about and training in the advocacy role may be reinforced through clinical training and supervision. In addition to incorporated teaching lessons, specific coursework in public policy advocacy might aid students in developing skills used to advocate, while increasing comfort, enhancing familiarity, and expanding knowledge of current issues.
Thanks to Ken Pope for this information.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Good News for Mental Illness in Health Law
By Richard A. Friedman, MD
The New York Times
Originally published July 9, 2012
The New York Times
Originally published July 9, 2012
Americans with mental illness had good reason to celebrate when the Supreme Court upheld President Obama’s Affordable Care Act. The law promises to give them something they have never had before: near-universal health insurance, not just for their medical problems but for psychiatric disorders as well.
Until now, people with mental illness and substance disorders have faced stingy annual and lifetime caps on coverage, higher deductibles or simply no coverage at all.
This was supposed to be fixed in part by the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008, which mandated that psychiatric illness be covered just the same as other medical illnesses. But the law applied only to larger employers (50 or more workers) that offered a health plan with benefits for mental health and substance abuse. Since it did not mandate universal psychiatric benefits, it had a limited effect on the disparity between the treatment of psychiatric and nonpsychiatric medical diseases.
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Rift Forms in Movement as Belief in Gay 'Cure' Is Renounced
By Erik Eckholm
The New York Times
Originally published on July 7, 2012
Here are some exerpts:
Alan Chambers, 40, the president, declared that there was no cure for homosexuality and that “reparative therapy” offered false hopes to gays and could even be harmful. His statements have led to charges of heresy and a growing schism within the network.
The New York Times
Originally published on July 7, 2012
Here are some exerpts:
Alan Chambers, 40, the president, declared that there was no cure for homosexuality and that “reparative therapy” offered false hopes to gays and could even be harmful. His statements have led to charges of heresy and a growing schism within the network.
“For the last 37 years, Exodus has been a bright light, arguably the brightest one for those with same-sex attraction seeking an authentically Christian hope,” said Andrew Comiskey, founder and director of Desert Stream Ministries, based in Kansas City, Mo., one of 11 ministries that defected. His group left Exodus in May, Mr. Comiskey said in an e-mail, “due to leader Alan Chambers’s appeasement of practicing homosexuals who claim to be Christian” as well as his questioning of the reality of “sexual orientation change.”
(cut)
“I believe that any sexual expression outside of heterosexual, monogamous marriage is sinful according to the Bible,” Mr. Chambers emphasized. “But we’ve been asking people with same-sex attractions to overcome something in a way that we don’t ask of anyone else,” he said, noting that Christians with other sins, whether heterosexual lust, pornography, pride or gluttony, do not receive the same blanket condemnations.
(cut)
Mr. Pickup, an officer of the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality, composed of like-minded therapists, said reparative therapy had achieved profound changes for thousands of people, including himself. The therapy, he said, had helped him confront emotional wounds and “my homosexual feelings began to dissipate and attractions for women grew.”
Some in the ex-gay world are more scathing about Mr. Chambers.
Google wants the world to "Legalize Love"
By Anna Peirano
Originally published July 8, 2012
Google is launching a new campaign called "Legalize Love" with the intention of inspiring countries to legalize marriage for lesbian, gay, and bisexual people around the world.The "Legalize Love" campaign officially launches in Poland and Singapore on Saturday, July 7th. Google intends to eventually expand the initiative to every country where the company has an office, and will focus on places with homophobic cultures, where anti-gay laws exist.
Friday, July 13, 2012
ASPPB Receives Licensure Portability Grant from Federal Government
Any questions can be directed to Alex Siegel, JD, PhD, Director of Professional Affairs of ASPPB
ASPPB Receives Grant
ASPPB Receives Grant
California places psychologist David Van Zak's license on probation
Psychiatric Crimes Database
Originally published July 5, 2012
On January 26, 2012, the California Board of Psychology placed DAVID VAN ZAK, Ph.D.’s license on probation for five years. According to the Board’s Accusation, Van Zak committed, among other things, repeated acts of negligence by accepting financial gifts from a patient, as well as the patient’s invitation to join her and her husband on a Mexican cruise.
The entire story is here.
Originally published July 5, 2012
On January 26, 2012, the California Board of Psychology placed DAVID VAN ZAK, Ph.D.’s license on probation for five years. According to the Board’s Accusation, Van Zak committed, among other things, repeated acts of negligence by accepting financial gifts from a patient, as well as the patient’s invitation to join her and her husband on a Mexican cruise.
The entire story is here.
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Child Abuse Reporting: Rethinking Child Protection
By Susan C. Kim, JD, MPH; Lawrence O. Gostin, JD; & Thomas B. Cole, MD, MPH.
Journal of the American Medical Association
JAMA. 2012;308(1):37-38. doi:10.1001/jama.2012.6414
Originally published July 4, 2012
The general public has been bewildered by the magnitude of sex abuse cases and the widespread failure by pillars of the community to notify appropriate authorities. The crime of sexually abusing children is punishable in all jurisdictions. However, what is the duty to report suspected cases by individuals in positions of trust over young people, such as in the church or university sports?
Since the mid-1980s, law enforcement has been investigating allegations of sexual crimes committed by Catholic priests against young boys and girls. These sexual abuse scandals and lawsuits have cost the Church an estimated $2 billion in settlements. A 2004 US Conference of Catholic Bishops report found that law enforcement was contacted in only 24% of cases of suspected abuse. In other cases, the church hierarchy responded internally or not at all: priests may have been counseled, evaluated, provided treatment, suspended, or limited in their priestly duties.
The entire article is here.
Thanks to Ken Pope for this lead.
Journal of the American Medical Association
JAMA. 2012;308(1):37-38. doi:10.1001/jama.2012.6414
Originally published July 4, 2012
The general public has been bewildered by the magnitude of sex abuse cases and the widespread failure by pillars of the community to notify appropriate authorities. The crime of sexually abusing children is punishable in all jurisdictions. However, what is the duty to report suspected cases by individuals in positions of trust over young people, such as in the church or university sports?
Since the mid-1980s, law enforcement has been investigating allegations of sexual crimes committed by Catholic priests against young boys and girls. These sexual abuse scandals and lawsuits have cost the Church an estimated $2 billion in settlements. A 2004 US Conference of Catholic Bishops report found that law enforcement was contacted in only 24% of cases of suspected abuse. In other cases, the church hierarchy responded internally or not at all: priests may have been counseled, evaluated, provided treatment, suspended, or limited in their priestly duties.
The entire article is here.
Thanks to Ken Pope for this lead.
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