New York psychiatrist Jaime M. Benitez disciplined for professional misconduct

January 1, 2009

The New York State Department of Health issued a Determination and Order, placing psychiatrist Jaime Marcelo Benitez on probation for two years. According to the State’s documents, Dr. Benitez, “By his own admission…is guilty of engaging in physical contact of a sexual nature with a patient, which is professional misconduct.” The documents state that Dr. Benitez treated a 42-year-old mildly mentally retarded female patient at a shelter, whom he “gave $8.00 of his own money to buy dinner…kissed her on the mouth, and hugged her for a few seconds.” Benitez is required to work under supervision only in an institutional setting for the duration of his probation and must obtain 16 additional hours of continuing education in the area of physician-patient boundaries.

(Determination and Order, In the Matter of Jaime Marcelo Benitez, M.D., BPMC No. 09-07, January 1, 2009.)