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| Paxil author Ray Berard. [Pic timeslive.co.za] |
Forgive the News of the Worldesque type headline for this blog post but I just couldn't resist it. I always love it when psychiatrists, particularly those connected with 'bigging up' the use of Paxil in children, give me the opportunity to play some AC/DC.
Read on.
South Africa's Cape Times is running with a story today that implicates Paxil [Seroxat in UK] author and psychiatrist Ray Berard in a sex scandal with one of his former patients.
Sylvia Ireland has accused Berard of misusing their therapy sessions to have sex. Ireland claims that she and Berard had a sexual relationship for two years whilst she was under his care. At the time, claims Ireland, she was using three types of medication, all prescribed by Berard for bipolar and having a personality disorder.
Berard, who is the co-owner of Selous House, a facility for patients with chronic mental illness in Western Cape, South Africa, has pleaded not guilty to all charges against him, including:
Entering into an intimate physical relationship with his patient.
Having sexual intercourse with her more than once.
Failing to refer her to another psychiatrist or to cease the doctor-patient relationship with her when the intimate sexual relationship developed.
Misusing the position of trust and confidence towards his patient.
Acting in a way likely to bring his profession into disrepute.
Selous House now runs under the name of St Anthony’s Home, a lavish psychiatric care facility whose fees seem even more lavish. For R7,500 [£630 - $990] per month patients can opt for a cubicle in a dormitory setting. R9000 per month [£750 - $1,185] will give you a single room without a shower...on top of which you are expected to pay the 8.4% VAT.
I never knew psychiatrists wages were so good that one could go out and make such a great investment.
Not yet reported and exclusive to Seroxat Sufferers is the news that Berard has links to the Paxil pediatric studies in adolescents.
Berard, who along with Pharma favorite Karen Wagner, co-authored A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Paroxetine in Children and Adolescents With Social Anxiety Disorder, the results of which showed "Paroxetine [Paxil] as an effective, generally well-tolerated treatment for pediatric social anxiety disorder."
He also, along with Neal Ryan [he of Paxil 329 fame] presented a poster presentation to The European College of Neuropsychopharmacology [ECNP] in 1998 entitled, 'Adolescent Depression: Efficacy of paroxetine'
Late last year The Star reported that Berard had also entered into a business relationship with Ireland's husband. The Star claims that Stuart Ireland appointed Berard as a director of his company Prestige Cosmetics while the psychiatrist continued to send erotic text messages to Sylvia Ireland. Hey, nice set of ethics Raymundo. One of the messages allegedly sent by Berard was: "It's hard as a rock."
Nothing to be ashamed of Raymundo... but those Paxil claims, tut tut.
Ironically, I hear Paxil is good for keeping your pecker up, also keeps the wolf from the door too, that's if you don't mind turning into a homicidal maniac whilst you're on the job. - Woof! Woof! AWOOOOOOO
This one's for you Dr Berard.
The case in front of the Health Professions Council of SA committee of inquiry continues today.
Full article HERE
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