New Jersey to Suspend Prominent Psychologist Barry Helfmann

New Jersey psychologist Barry Helfmann is facing the suspension of his license after state officials concluded that he failed to keep details of mental health diagnoses and treatments confidential when he sued his patients over unpaid bills.

 

The state Board of Psychological Examiners this week upheld a decision by an administrative law judge that the psychologist, Barry Helfmann, “did not take reasonable measures to protect the confidentiality of his patients’ protected health information,” Lisa Coryell, a spokeswoman for the state attorney general’s office, said in an email.

 

The administrative law judge recommended that Dr. Helfmann pay a fine and a share of the investigative costs. The board went further, ordering that Dr. Helfmann’s license be suspended for two years, Ms. Coryell wrote. During the first year, he will not be able to practice; during the second, he can practice, but only under supervision. Dr. Helfmann also will have to pay a $10,000 civil penalty, take an ethics course and reimburse the state for some of its investigative costs. The suspension is scheduled to begin in September.

 

Dr. Helfmann has denied wrongdoing.

 

Charles Ornstein, "New Jersey to Suspend Prominent Psychologist for Failing to Protect Patient Privacy," New York Times, 29 June 2018, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/29/nyregion/new-jersey-to-suspend-prominent-psychologist-for-failing-to-protect-patient-privacy.html