Local psychologist's license to be suspended

A North Stonington psychologist will have his license suspended by early next year, after a decision Monday by the state Board of Examiners of Psychologists on charges that he violated patient confidentiality rules by sharing information about patients with one another, including a woman now suing him for malpractice and another woman with whom he was having an affair.

Diana Lejardi, spokeswoman for the state Department of Public Health, said today that the one-year suspension and two years of probation wouldn't take effect until a formal order is written and signed. She expects that will take place in early 2010. The public health department oversees the board of examiners.

Dr. Reuben Spitz, who treats patients at his home and at an office in Waterford, is already under probation with the state after it found he had committed sexual misconduct in having the affair. Spitz, a licensed psychologist since 1999, was placed on a two-year probation last year. Terms of the probation include that he must undergo psychological therapy, and that therapist must report to the state quarterly and supervise Dr. Spitz's treatment of patients. Spitz' appeal of the ruling is pending.

The charges on confidentiality breaches were brought in February by the state Department of Public Health after the attorney representing East Lyme resident Erin Machnik in a malpractice case against Spitz told them Spitz had divulged sensitive information about his client to Lori Blinderman, with whom he was having an affair. Spitz had treated Blinderman's ex-husband Richard, and the couple's son. Spitz disputed that Lori Blinderman was his patient, but in the earlier ruling the board found that whenever a child is a patient, the child's parent is also considered a patient.

Spitz' attorney, Jeffrey Mirman, said today that Spitz continues to see patients under the conditions of the probation, and that Monday's ruling will have no bearing on that, nor will it have any bearing on his appeal of the board's earlier ruling.

"My view is that the board's decision is founded on quicksand, and not supported by any evidence," Mirman said.

Spitz has not yet determined how he will respond to Monday's decision, Mirman said.