Louisiana Psychiatrist Davis S. Dawes Placed on License Probation for 6-Month Sex Affair with Female Patient

October 14, 2021

On August 10, 2021, the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners placed Lafayette psychiatrist Dr. David Dawes' medical license on probationary status for a period of five years for having an inappropriate and unprofessional sexual relationship with a female psychiatric patient. This sexual misconduct lasted from August 2019 to January 2020. 

Terms of Dawes' probation include having an approved chaperone or monitor be present during all patient contact or monitoring it via audio/video. Dawes is also required to submit to polygraph testing every six months, with results to be submitted to the Medical Board and Healthcare Professionals Foundation of Louisiana, the state's physician rehabilitation program. 

Dawes sought to have the Board not publicly report this disciplinary action. The Board denied Dawes' request. 

Source: Decision and Ruling in the Matter of David S. Dawes, M.D., Certification No. MD.020122, Case No. 20-A-001, Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners, Aug. 10, 2021.