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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

State Board: Prozac Doctor Not Impaired Mental Health Charge Lifted; Others Remain

Associated Press

The state Examining Board of Psychology has dismissed allegations that James Goodwin, known as the “Pied Piper of Prozac,” is mentally impaired and should be barred from practicing psychology.

Bill Bishin, Goodwin’s Seattle lawyer, said late Wednesday that the nine-member board rejected a psychiatrist’s testimony that the Wenatchee psychologist could be endangering patients by telling them they are depressed and urging them to take Prozac.

“For the last four years I’ve been fighting accusations and insinuations from people who are a bit behind the times,” Goodwin told the Seattle PostIntelligencer. “This action by the board says that my practices aren’t that farfetched.”

Dr. Kenneth Melman, testifying for the state, said last month that Goodwin suffers from Bipolar II disorder, a form of manic-depression, with bouts of hypomania characterized by euphoria, unrealistic optimism and increased speech and activity.

In all, the board conducted seven days of hearings in the case. If the board had found against Goodwin, it could have barred him from practicing.

“This was not a competency hearing,” Health Department spokesman Joe Jimenez said. “The board was only to decide if Goodwin suffered from these two specific illnesses. They said nothing about the possibility of Goodwin having any other mental or physical condition affecting his ability to practice psychology.”

Goodwin still faces state allegations of unprofessional conduct, stemming from more than 20 complaints against him. Those accusations include diagnosing patients without adequate evaluation; pressuring, threatening or intimidating clients into taking Prozac; and violating medical confidentiality rules by prompting patients to talk to others about the benefits of Prozac.

Bishin said discussions will be held on those matters, followed by hearings.

Goodwin has said he has recommended Prozac or similar anti-depressant drugs for 800 patients he has seen in Wenatchee since 1989. Goodwin himself has been taking Prozac for seven years to treat what he calls “major depression.”