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Kokua Line
Question: Is there an agency I could call regarding this situation? A co-worker and I visited a psychiatrist's office about a month ago, but this has been bothering me ever since. We walked in the door and saw three young children watching a Disney video. The psychiatrist was in a private room with a child under hypnosis. He kind of chased us out. What worries us is that he was in a private room with a child and I didn't see any other adults there. I don't know anything about psychiatry, but do people just leave their children there without any adult supervision? It just seemed very odd. Is there a psychiatry board we can call to find out what the acceptable normal practice is? Worried about
psychologist’s solo
session with childAnswer: If you have a question regarding a psychiatrist, you can address your concerns to Lydia Hardie, executive director, Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association, 5090 Likini St., No. 1601, Honolulu, HI 96818 (or care of the Hawaii Medical Association, 1360 S. Beretania St., 2nd Floor, Honolulu, HI 96818).
The association has an ethics committee that "reviews any kind of question that comes in regarding acceptable practices," Hardie said.
In general, a child's parents would be present with a psychiatrist, although age may be a factor, as would be the relationship between a child and parent, she said.
However, when posed your question, Hardie's initial reaction was that the person you described is a psychologist (who has a Ph.D., while a psychiatrist is an M.D.).
"People often get them confused," she said.
It turns out she was right.
Because the person you saw is a psychologist, you could contact either the Hawaii Psychological Association, 394-0388, or the state Board of Psychology, 586-2693. Jack Annon, chairman of the Hawaii Psychological Association's Ethics Committee, said you can call him at 396-5450 if you just want to find out about the ethical standards of the profession. However, for complaints or questions about a psychologist's behavior, he said the proper agency to call is the state board, which now handles licensing.
FYI, there is also a state Board of Medical Examiners, but the board doesn't regulate medical specialty areas and doesn't have standards regulating psychiatric practices, said Executive Director Constance Cabral-Makanani.
The board "sanctions physicians when they've violated one of our licensing laws, like negligence or misconduct in the practice, being addicted to drugs while in practice and that kind of thing," she said.
Any standards set by a group like the psychiatric association would be followed on a "purely voluntary" basis by its members.
"Whatever they have set (as a standard) wouldn't necessarily violate our law, where our board would have to take action," Cabral-Makanani explained.
Mahalo
To all the cars for not stopping to let me cross the street in a crosswalk. Too bad it takes a traffic light to make you stop. I should let you go, because I wouldn't want to delay you by 30 seconds. Here's to the aloha spirit. Mahalo also to all the bikers who do not yield to me and try to run me over on the sidewalk. I guess I should move because you are bigger than me. Have a happy holiday. -- M. Nomura
Mahalo
To the person responsible for turning in my wallet full of coupons to customer service at the Navy Commissary. May the Lord bless your honest heart. -- Grateful
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