Psychiatrist Gary Paul Kula resigns from state hospital on eve of investigation

February 23, 2012

On February 22, 2012, psychiatrist Gary Paul Kula resigned from his position at Rusk State Hospital in Austin, Texas.

His resignation came a day after he was notified that hospital officials had begun disciplinary action against him because he appeared to be impaired—under the influence of drugs or alcohol—at work.

Kula had been sanctioned twice in the past for sexual relationships with patients and had come under scrutiny by the Department of State Health Services in late 2011 after the newspaper Austin American Statesman reported that Kula was among three state psychiatric hospital doctors with a documented history of sexual misconduct.

Additionally, Kula was disciplined by both the Texas and Oklahoma medical boards in the early 2000s for becoming sexually involved with several patients.

According to the notice of possible disciplinary action that Kula’s senior presented him with, it was alleged that on February 14, 2012, Kula was found slumped back in his chair in his office, unable to speak clearly or walk and was unresponsive. Nine of Kula’s co-workers witnessed the incident.

Rusk State Hospital officials were reported to have brought this matter to the attention of the state medical licensing board.

Source: Andrea Ball, “State hospital psychiatrist with history of misconduct resigns,” Austin American Statesman, February 22, 2012.