Michigan and Ohio Suspend Licenses of Psychiatrist James Cunagin for Sex with Patient

October 18, 2023

On December 12, 2022, the State Medical Board of Ohio indefinitely suspended the license of Beachwood psychiatrist James F. Cunagin and fined him $20,000 for having engaged in a sexual relationship with a patient.

The Board’s document states that prior to commencing a sexual relationship with Patient 1, Cunagin was aware that she suffered from a progressive brain disorder. He also knew that she had been in sexually and physically abusive relationships. In addition, Cunagin was aware that Patient 1 had received inpatient and intensive outpatient treatment for her mental health conditions prior to beginning treatment with him.

Cunagin began treating Patient 1 around March 2019. During an interview with a Board representative, he admitted that he engaged in a sexual relationship with Patient 1, which began a couple of weeks after the date of her last visit on March 30, 2020. The sexual relationship continued until July or August 2020. 

Cunagin initially denied engaging in sexual contact with Patient 1 before her last office visit on March 30, 2020, however, the Board's investigation revealed information showing that the sexual relationship with the patient began before the last office visit. Additional information provided to the Board included that he flirted with Patient 1 before her last office visit in March 2020, and he also asked questions of a sexual nature that were not clinically relevant.

The Board's investigation also revealed information indicating that his entry into the patient’s chart about terminating the physician-patient relationship because of social and social media contacts that he had in common with Patient 1, was, in fact, a plan he devised to document a false justification to terminate the physician-patient relationship in order to give the appearance that he initially met the patient outside the office for innocent reasons.

The Board's investigation further revealed that he exploited the physician-patient balance of power to take advantage of Patient 1, which information included:          

• After commencing a sexual relationship with Patient 1, she helped him move into the place where she was living. 

• Patient 1 assisted him in finding his own apartment and provided financial assistance to him to furnish the apartment. 

• During the time frame of his sexual relationship with Patient 1 and in the course of having personal arguments with her, he inappropriately used and/or mentioned information that she had previously conveyed to him during psychiatric sessions.

Cunagin is also licensed in Michigan. the Michigan Board of Medicine Disciplinary Subcommittee suspended his Michigan license on October 29, 2022, citing his violations in the state of Ohio.

Source: Final Order in the Matter of James Ferral Cunagin, M.D., License No. 43-01-503687, File 43-22-001053, State of Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Professional Licensing, Board of Medicine Disciplinary Subcommittee, Sept. 29, 2022.