On June 1, 2008 the New York State Department of Health State Board of Professional Medical Conduct granted psychiatrist William J. Lasher’s application for a modification of the Board’s October 12, 2000 order, with which the state suspended his license indefinitely. The Board modified the order so that instead of indefinite suspension, Dr. Lasher “shall never activate [his] registration to practice medicine in New York state or seek to reapply for a license to practice medicine in New York state.” According to the Board’s file on Lasher, in late 2000, the Board charged Dr. Lasher with professional misconduct for sending a letter to the New York State Attorney General’s office wherein he admitted previously attempting suicide, stating, “…but has also destroyed by professional and personal life to the extent that at times, I cannot practice and have, at times, been so depressed, that I wish I could die!” Dr. Lasher has remitted a letter to a physician in which he stated “you have no idea how this whole process [apparently referring to an investigation into his fitness to practice] has affected by self-esteem, and my professional work. It has gone on way too long…and has led to suicidal ideation.” The Board’s documents state that Dr. Lasher attempted suicide by drug overdose in 1998. Dr. Lasher permanently surrendered his license to practice medicine in the state of Texas in September 2001.¹