Pennsylvania revokes psychologist David M. Garner’s license for sex with patient; Ohio and Canada previously did the same

July 28, 2009

The Pennsylvania State Board of Psychology revoked the license of David Marshall Garner, Ph.D. based on disciplinary action taken upon him by the state of Ohio.  On October 22, 2008, Garner permanently surrendered his Ohio license to that state’s Board of Psychology.  This was done to settle a complaint filed with the Board by an adult female former patient.  The former patient alleged Garner engaged her in a sexual relationship from July 2005 to spring 2006.  Garner has a history of sexual misconduct accusations, one of which resulted in a five-month license suspension in Ohio in 2005 for an admitted affair with a psychology assistant he supervised at River Centre Clinic, which he founded and from which he recently ultimately resigned.  Garner was also sanctioned by licensing authorities in Ontario, Canada in 1979 and 1985 for having sex with clients; they revoked his license in 1989.

(Consent Agreement and Order, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs vs. David Marshall Garner, Ph.D., Docket No. 0626-63-09, File No. 09-63-00032, July 28, 2009.)