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NAMI BLASTS CBS FOR TELEVISION MALPRACTICEhttp://www.nami.org/template.cfm?template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=18010&lstid=275"NAMI (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill) today charged CBS Television with gross irresponsibility and potential endangerment of the lives of children with mental illness as a result of its September 22 broadcast of the Dr. Phil Primetime Special: Family First.
"Not only did the show represent a breach of professional ethics, but also, in the opinion of many, malpractice," declared NAMI executive director Michael J. Fitzpatrick, in a letter to CBS Chairman & CEO Leslie Moonves, co-signed by Suzanne Vogel-Scibilia, MD, a child psychiatrist who chairs the Child & Adolescent Policy Subcommittee of NAMI’s national board.
In the September 22 program, parents essentially were blamed for "what may very well be the severe mental illness of their child." Dr. Phil’s conduct "is serious enough to warrant investigation by a relevant board of licensure. To the degree that he seemed to offer a definitive diagnosis, including a pharmacological assessment, without careful evaluation or referral, he may also be subject to legal sanctions for practicing medicine without a license," the letter noted.
"The show was especially troubling because the child’s behavior may have suggested symptoms of bipolar disorder, requiring treatment vastly different from a father being admonished to spend more time with his son to ‘go fishing.’
..."---------- NAMI's letter to CBShttp://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=Other&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=18009"NAMI (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill) strongly protests the Dr. Phil Primetime: Family First broadcast on September 22, 2004, in which parents were essentially blamed for what may very well be the severe mental illness of their child.
Since the show aired, we have received broad expressions of outrage from NAMI’s 220,000 members, who consist of individuals and families who confront mental illnesses every day. We also have received requests for concerted action from by child psychiatrists, psychologists and other colleague organizations in the professional field.
Not only did the show represent a breach of professional ethics in several respects, but also in the opinion of many, malpractice. Dr. Phil’s conduct is serious enough to warrant investigation by a relevant board of licensure. To the degree that he seemed to offer a definitive diagnosis, including a pharmacological assessment, without careful evaluation or referral, he also may be subject to legal sanctions for practicing medicine without a license.
The show was especially troubling because the child’s behavior may have suggested symptoms of bipolar disorder or similar illness, requiring treatment vastly different from a father being admonished to spend more time with his son to "go fishing." Blaming the family undermines all recent understanding of the biological basis of brain disorders, and not only is insensitive, but also hinders a family or individual from seeking comprehensive treatment.
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