On Melvin Levine (Part III): I Hate Cover-Ups. I Really, Really Hate Them

2/17/2011 Update:  Dr. Melvin Levine:  Back In The News

The NC Medical Board today took action in the Melvin Levine case today that, to me . . . in terms of real accountability for doctors . . . and, as the victim of a different kind of rape . . . just reeks.

From the N&O article:

Dr. Mel Levine, a nationally renown pediatrician who pioneered educational methods for children with learning disabilities, will never practice medicine again under an agreement reached today with the N.C. Medical Board.

Five former male patients had accused Levine of conducting inappropriate genital examinations when they were seen for behavioral issues such as attention deficit disorder. Levine ran a clinic at UNC-Chapel Hill and founded a research institute called All Kinds of Minds.

The former patients' allegations sparked an investigation by the medical board, which licenses and disciplines doctors. Last year, Levine pulled his license from active status and effectively retired from practicing medicine. He also severed ties with All Kinds of Minds.

The board's action today settles the case by permanently keeping Levine's license inactive. It means that Levine will never legally practice medicine again in North Carolina or anywhere else. But it does not resolve the issue of whether Levine is guilty of the charges.

Dr. George Saunders, the board chairman, said the board was conflicted about the consent order approved this morning.

"Our greatest discipline we could mete out on any licensee would be revocation or indefinite suspension", Saunders said. "This actually goes further than that."

Rather than determining that Levine did or did not behave inappropriately, the board instead said it was prepared to offer testimony about the patient exams and, if it could prove that they were inappropriate, would consider the conduct unprofessional and grounds for his license to be revoked.

But no testimony was offered, and no proof made. Thomas Mansfield, legal director of the medical board, said by not holding a hearing, the board kept vulnerable victims from having to testify publicly about their ordeals. "What we hear from patients generally is that their first goal is to make sure it doesn't happen to anyone else," he said.

Levine has consistently denied any wrongdoing, and insisted that his examinations of the boys was warranted to rule out any number of illnesses or developmental problems that might have contributed to the children's behaviors.

Let me be clear on this: If there is proof of a medical breach of trust so heinous as the sexual abuse of a child, as a doctor practicing in North Carolina, I want to hear about it. I want to know how these kids fell through the cracks (cracks at one of our most respected medical institutions) and I want to cement the cracks.

The citizens of North Carolina need to hear it too. What did or did not happen to these boys should have been thoroughly vetted through sworn testimony and cross-examination in a hearing (even if it was closed to protect the identities of the victims).

And if Melvin Levine was found culpable by a group of his medical peers, criminal charges should be sworn and he should be in jail.

AS IT STANDS, THIS IS JUST ANOTHER COVER-UP BY THE NCMB.

I have strong feelings about this because (1) I've been on the wrong side of a witchhunt and (2) I've also been the victim of a crime perpetrated by the very people welding the burning pitchforks. And all I have wanted to do is scream it from the rooftops - to bring the people who purposely and methodically hurt me to justice. Moreover, I've signed my name as I've begged and pleaded and raved, and I have taken every manner of sling & arrow in this blogosphere trying to get someone/anyone to MOVE . . . things have been said to me or about me that would make a truly "crazy" person jump off a cliff.

And yes, echoing the sentiment expressed by the Board's chief legal eagle, Thomas Mansfield, one of the primary motivations in my case is to make sure that what happened to me does not happen to another young/idealistic physician in public service.

But all I have heard in this blogosphere . . . from these "vulnerable victims" . . . who are adults now . . . and who have filed lawsuits in other states (i.e. public records) . . . and who have posted on blogs (anonymously) . . . often reaming me out for giving the world-renowned doctor the benefit of the doubt . . . is that they want the truth to come out.

I am sorry, in order for the truth to really come out, they have to step up. They need to sign their names and be vetted.

As far as I know Melvin Levine has not been practicing medicine anywhere since this story broke (he essentially retired), ergo, in point of fact, nothing substantive was accomplished by this "action". It's just one of those slippery, icky "no fault" deals in which the NCMB does not have to admit that medical oversight in this state SUCKS.

Someone very wise once told me (after the fact), that a settlement is called a settlement because no one leaves the table happy.

If Melvin Levine is truly innocent (and while I'm having a harder and harder time believing that, because of this piss-ant "deal" I do not know), he made a mistake in capitulating to the Board and what amounts to blackmail. He will always have a cloud over his life, his work and his name. And if he is innocent, that is not right or fair.

Moreover, he and the NCMB have establised an ominous precedent for innocent doctors to be blackmailed in the same fashion. This will, no doubt, have . . . what's that term I've heard in the blogosphere lately pertaining to quickly passed federal legislation? . . . "unforseen consequences" for "truly innocent" doctors in the future.

On the other hand, if these patients were truly victimized by this doctor . . . and think they will find any kind of "closure" in this mealy-mouthed deal . . . they need to think again. All of the money in the world will not bring them peace or wash the ick off.

The truth did not come out today.

I hate cover-ups.

I really, really, really HATE them.

Comments on this post are CLOSED. I don't want to hear from anybody on either side - ESPECIALLY if you cannot sign your name!

Author's note: Blogger is hiccuping again today. A number of typos have been corrected. Sorry.