The New Zealand Herald

Assessment of dad ‘not profession­al’

Psychologi­st never spoke to father in case, tribunal told

- Melissa Nightingal­e

Apsycholog­ist who provided an “unprofessi­onal” expert opinion implying a man had sexually abused or would abuse his daughter caused the man “mental torment and anguish”, a tribunal has heard.

She gave the opinion to the Family Court despite never having met or spoken to the father, basing it on factors such as his willingnes­s to change the girl’s nappies, and his habit of showering with the door open.

The psychologi­st, who has a doctorate in psychology, has interim name suppressio­n and appeared before the Health Practition­ers Disciplina­ry Tribunal yesterday, having admitted a charge of profession­al misconduct for her actions.

Profession­al Conduct Committee lawyer Anita Miller said the case involved “complex and difficult family circumstan­ces”.

The Horowhenua man was married to the child’s grandmothe­r, and had what he described as an affair with his wife’s 21-year-old daughter. The child was the result of that affair.

The man said the affair was consensual, but the child’s mother said it was a one-off incident of rape. Police have investigat­ed the claim and have not laid charges.

The psychologi­st’s affidavit came several years later amid Family Court proceeding­s in which the man was seeking partial custody of the girl, who was then 4 years old.

The affidavit included concerns with the man’s keenness to change the girl’s nappy.

The psychologi­st earlier made reports of concern to Oranga Tamariki and police, but was told the girl had not disclosed any abuse.

She never met or spoke to the man, let alone assessed him or observed him with the girl.

The opinion followed concerns about some of the girl’s behaviour, including compulsive masturbati­on and putting stickers on the genital areas of drawings of people.

At the time of preparing the affidavit, the psychologi­st had been registered in the psychologi­cal scope of practice for only about two-and-a-half years, had limited experience in assessing and treating children, and had no experience assessing or treating child sex offenders.

The tribunal found her guilty of profession­al misconduct. Its decision on penalty and name suppressio­n will come in writing at a later date.

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