To the editor:

Public Health Bills 575-578 address the Bureau of Health’s licensing board of health professionals; they’re designed to amend existing laws protecting the general public. License boards re-instate sex offenders despite convictions of sexual abuse against patients, including children. Re-instated psychologist/sex offender, Dr. Gordon, violated a child patient; he gave opposing testimony.

According to TV-7 WXYZ Nov. 14, 2013 Senator Jones told 7 Action News, “that the bill will not apply to licensed medical professionals convicted of a sex crime before the bill is passed.”

“I can’t legislate retroactively,” says Jones. ” if Senator Jones’s bill becomes law, . it would not apply to the 45 licensed health professionals who we found were convicted of a sex crime all of whom can or have applied to have their licenses reinstated.”

We can presume then that all along our “health, safety, and welfare” was not protected. Is it wise to have peers of sex offenders determine that their ‘colleagues’ are safe to practice again?

We trust them to have the highest standards, NOT molest us or our kids, physically, mentally, or emotionally. We certainly don’t expect the license board to insult the victims by re-instating them. Those in the board review positions are appointed by the governor.

At the very least more than one board reviewer needs to have a say in authorizing investigations.

Actions by board reviewers, and, the existing mental health special privileges, relative to session notes (over) protected via The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act(HIPAA) enables obstruction of justice as the Public Health Code reads.

It’s time for state and federal law changes; the existing scenario gives more protection to the therapist than the patient. Once the door is closed you don’t know what kind of abuse could take place.

Registered sex offenders back in business?

Is there fraud of state aid and insurance companies? Their colleagues determine the “cure” status? Records protected, for whom? Where is that logic?

Registered sex offenders can’t drive school buses, yet can treat patients? A less ‘offensive’ analogy: would a bank owner hire a former bank robber as night watchman?

Calls to representatives and Congressman Dan Benishek are needed. Congressman Benishek’s battle cry, “Enough is enough”, should be yours. The medical and mental health field should be ‘up in arms’, not, embracing sex offenders ‘back into their arms’ as fellow colleagues. Integrity? Responsibility?

Joan Roberts

WATTON