NY Medical Board Charges Psychiatrist Arnold Mandelstam with Harassing Patients, Moral Unfitness; Probed Vulnerable Female Patients for Details of Their Sex Lives
June 17, 2022
On October 18, 2021, the New York State Board for Professional Medical Conduct issued a Statement of Charges against psychiatrist Arnold Mandelstam, charging him with willfully harassing, abusing, or intimidating a patient; negligence on more than one occasion; gross negligence; and moral unfitness.
The Board’s document includes the following details which form the basis of the charges:
A. Mandelstam treated “Patient A” from on or about February 6, 2014 through on or about May 25,2017. Patient A sought treatment with Mandelstam after her brother's sudden death from a heroin overdose and reported a history of a traumatic childhood and worsening depression. Mandelstam deviated from accepted medical standards in that he:
1. Made inappropriate sexual remarks to Patient A not for a legitimate medical purpose.
2. Asked Patient A inappropriate sexual questions not for a legitimate medical purpose.
3. Told Patient A intimate details of his personal life with his wife not for a legitimate medical purpose.
4. Made references to his own body and physical condition to Patient not for a legitimate medical purpose.
5. On or about May 25, 2017, continued to probe Patient A about her sex life not for a legitimate medical purpose, during which time he put his hand in his pocket and began rubbing his penis. Patient A saw that he had an erection. This was the last session Patient A attended with Respondent.
B. Mandelstam treated “Patient B” from on or about October 12, 2000 through on or about June 18, 2009. Patient B sought treatment with Mandelstam for her reported anxiety which she attributed to her significant history of childhood sexual abuse. Mandelstam deviated from accepted medical standards in that he:
1. Made inappropriate sexual remarks to Patient B not for a legitimate medical purpose.
2. Asked Patient B inappropriate sexual questions not for a legitimate medical purpose.
3. Told Patient B intimate details of his personal life with his wife not for a legitimate medical purpose.
4. Made references to his own body and physical condition to Patient B not for a legitimate medical purpose.
Source: Statement of Charges in the Matter of Arnold Mandelstam, M.D., New York State Department of Health State Board for Professional Medical Conduct, October 18, 2021.
Doc is one of the kindest men I know. And from his heart. It%u2019s just strange these women saw him for several years, than they realized years later they were what? Uncomfortable , or unhealthy enough for Dr Mandelstam to continue treating and not refer them elsewhere. ?? Please comment back and post , Doc I%u2019ll be the first to say, you are one of the most morally fit men I know. And that comes from my heart. Only you know my history, and only you will. You gave me confidence when I had none and you gave me hope. Ultimately what you gave me was your time. I would never mistake you for the cruel accusations brought upon you.
@Kristyn Long. I ask myself the same question about these women, why did it take them so long to report this and come at Dr. Mandelstam with these ludicrous accusations? Our Dr. M? Really?
He has been nothing but a kind gentle man who cares about all of his patients. These women have ruined the lives of so many women and men including myself. I do not know what I am going to do with out him, he was my life line, my light.
We love you and miss you Dr. M.
I do find it odd both patients have similar stories.
https://chng.it/MzJWjH7SCq
https://chng.it/MzJWjH7SCq
A petition is a nice thought but will not be enough to compel the state to reinstate his license.
These charges do not sound like they are true. I have been a patient of Dr Mandelstam%u2019s for many years and never did I feel uncomfortable in his office while being treated by him. He was a true professional. Sounds like these two accusers had their own issues.
Ruined a good doctor%u2019s character, his sense of fulfillment in his career. Miss him
This is not in Dr Mandelstam %u2018s character. He could never be a part of this behavior that he is accused of doing.
His professionalism is engrained in him. He could never deviate from that in any way under any circumstance.
These two women need God in their lives. Someone to lead them on the path of justice not the path of wickedness & character assassination of an innocent doctor which they have chosen. Clearly their souls are under the control of the Evil One at this time. There can be no real rest or peace for them in their hearts.
Psychiatrists are an infamously horny bunch, with overwhelming evidence which shows a proclivity to engage their vulnerable patients in sexual acts and sexual relationships.
This instance of misconduct by Dr. Mandelstam is likely only the tip of a much larger and sexually licentious iceberg.
Is there even one iota of evidence of sexual misconduct? (it's just he said, she said)
NO!....so do not be so quick to judge someone you don't know or even met for that matter. There are two sides to every story. You should speak to the hundreds of patients he has treated and they will all tell you that he is one of the utmost professional, kind, caring, experienced psychiatrists out there. Anyone would be lucky to have been treated by him.
It is a travesty what these patients accused Dr. Mandelstam of. I pray for those women that they may find peace within themselves after not only destroying his life but the lives of so many others.
We love you Dr. Mandelstam!
You would think that a NYC psychiatrist could probably afford a pretty good lawyer to defend against "no concrete evidence" complaints. And yet he lost his license.
And just because he didn't enter sexual comments or behavior into your treatment doesn't mean he was not capable of it or didn't do it to other patients. Evidently, he did.
Can't argue with the facts and the fact is, NY yanked his license for sexual conduct with a patient.
From prescribing Percocet to a pregnant woman, to sharing some patients info with another patient, playing private recordings to a patient.
D M. Is a well respected dr with plenty of degrees from upstanding universities & high standing positions. This may not be what%u2019s seen by all but seen by enough %u2026%u2026clearly well over enough to lose his license
I 1st was devastated about this and in shock as I have known him basically more than 1/2 my life. He has never once been sexual towards me or anyone I knew who also saw him. He was greatly loved by me and my family.
I always felt safe with him emotionally and with my prescriptions.
He told me himself how these were false and twisted and he was going to fight this.. and I was willing to even help write to stand by his character.
Then, he explained, how he was basically going to retire, was aging anyway, and didn't feel he;d win regardless of his efforts.
I felt sad.
It's been a while now and I have grown more conflicted with this as I look back and reflect on things .
I'm sad that now I do question this.
I'm sad that I possibly doubted victims based on MY experience.
Many women do not come out right away as it's shameful and sometimes when they do, it's not heard. So the argument that 1. they took too long to speak up, is BS.
2. That because I , my family, or others have not experienced this doesn't say he didn't do it to another and frankly, it's dismissive and part of the problem women fear coming out. " but he is SUCH a nice man he never did that to ME"
3. They woudln't take a license away w/o evidence. SOMETHING happened it didn'd come from nothing and to have 2 women with similar stories... this isn't random.
.. I used to think he shared family members personal details with me was due to him trusting me. Now, as a therapist, I realize that was wrong and I always knew that,but knew i'd never tell family what he disclosed. NEVER should a professional disclose details w/o consent to release I dont care how comfortable or much you trust someone. It is WRONG and yes, I was one told years ago by a family member that HE had shared something about me to them which they used against me.
This was not ethical and for him to have done this easily, naturally, has me sadly reconsidering his moral compass.
I knew him as a very good and kind man who was a stable foundation in me and my familes life and I don't discount that.
However, I do want to apologize to the women who may have had this experience and to say It was selfish of me to assume if he was one way to me he would be that way to all. Your experince is yours not mine to define or assume.
I can't know what happened for sure as I saw no evidence, I just know I will now not assume and automatically dismiss allegations based on his word and my own comparison.
To Dr M, I hope you are well, If these are all lies, I am truly sorry for this, if there is truth to this.. this is your consequence of even slightly crossing a line to give anyone room to run with it and if you have done what was said.. then I never knew you I guess.
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