Therapist Faces False-Memory Accusation

A state disciplinary board has accused a therapist of unprofessional conduct, alleging he induced false memories of sexual abuse and satanism.

The Medical Quality Assurance Commission alleges that John W. Laughlin pressured a client in Enumclaw six years ago to believe she was involved in a cult.

Laughlin, who is now working at a hospital in Chelan, said he is “certainly disputing” the board’s accusations.

If Laughlin is found guilty, he could lose his license or face lesser sanctions.

Two years ago, Laughlin settled a lawsuit with the former client for an undisclosed amount of money.

Meanwhile, Laughlin has recently been sued by another former client, alleging similar misconduct.

The commission accusations allege Laughlin engaged in unprofessional conduct while he was practicing as a physician’s assistant in Enumclaw from 1990 to 1992, including “incompetence, negligence or malpractice which results in an injury to a patient or which creates an unreasonable risk that a patient may be harmed.”

According to the board’s statement, Laughlin pressured the client to believe that she had been abused and that she was involved in cult activities.

“Subsequent therapy by other health-care providers cast doubts on (Laughlin’s) treatment and the reliability of the information obtained from (the client) by means of hypnosis,” the board wrote.