LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: In the documentary 'TMZ Investigates: Britney Spears: The Price of Freedom' which aired on Monday, May 15, a panel of experts including physician and addiction specialist Dr Drew Pinsky, psychiatrist Dr Charles Sophy, and news director Brad Appleton delved into the condition of the popstar Britney Spears.
In the clip shared by TMZ, Dr Drew said about Britney, "Look at the woman there, the suffering she is going through, the isolation, then also look at her for what she is, and try to keep in mind, she is a brilliant performer." He continued, "This is a lovely woman, this is somebody who is trying to manage her life, and she has a lot of her and this illness is just getting in the way. It is very common to people with these kinds of illnesses to minimize their need for help." However, Britney's team has asserted that Pinksy has never been involved in her treatment and that he falsely diagnosed her with a brain disorder.
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Britney's team has taken further action by filing a complaint against Dr Pinksy and sharing a letter addressed to him on Twitter, with the caption, "Dr. Drew could face potential consequences, including the possibility of losing his medical license in California, for diagnosing Britney with a 'brain disorder' on national television without having treated her, which constitutes a clear violation of The Goldwater Rule."
Complaint alleges Dr Drew Pinksy offered medical opinion without patient involvement
The letter read, "We are writing to file a complaint against Dr. Drew Pinsky who is currently licensed by the Medical Board of California (G 55092) for violating The Goldwater Rule. On May 15th, 2023, Dr. Drew Pinksy appeared on a national television broadcast 'TMZ Investigates: The Price of Freedom' and claimed that Britney Spears is suffering from a biological 'brain disorder' that requires medication, despite the fact that he has never treated or evaluated her." "Of course, if Dr. Drew Pinsky had actually ever treated Britney Spears, this would have constituted a violation of her patient confidentiality," Britney's team said.
The letter stated that Pinksy's act of providing a medical opinion without direct involvement with the patient clearly violates section 7.3 of the American Psychiatric Association's code of ethics. This section explicitly states that it is unethical for a psychiatrist to offer a professional opinion without conducting an examination and obtaining proper authorization.
The diagnosis of "brain damage" without any evaluation of the patient goes against the expected professional conduct upheld by the Medical Board of California and the field of psychiatry as a whole. Such behavior not only undermines the integrity of Pinksy but also casts doubt on the credibility of the entire profession.
Complaint seeks revocation of Dr Drew Pinksy's medical license
Britney's team asserts that Pinksy's actions represent a violation of California's Business and Professions Code B&P 2234, which aims to prevent unprofessional conduct and dishonesty. According to this code, the minimum penalty for such a violation includes a stayed revocation and a 5-year probation period, while the maximum penalty may result in the complete revocation of Pinksy's medical license in the state of California. Possible disciplinary measures may encompass educational courses on professionalism and ethics, suspension, community service, a psychiatric or medical evaluation, as well as a clinical competence assessment.
Furthermore, apart from his recent remarks about Britney Spears, Pinsky has faced accusations of violating The Goldwater Rule and professional ethics in other instances. For example, he claimed that Charlie Sheen was in a "manic state" and made a controversial statement regarding Lindsay Lohan, suggesting that he would manipulate her into a situation leading to her arrest.
The letter concluded with, "Based on the allegations laid out in this complaint and the evidence we are submitting along with this complaint to prove the allegations are true, we request a full investigation into this matter by the California Medical Board and for a formal accusation to be filed against Dr. Drew Pinsky in response to this complaint."
'That’s unethical, I hope he loses his license'
Fans expressed their opinions over the issue on social media, with one user on Twitter commenting, "Best news I've seen all day." Another user shared their perspective and stated, "IMO, Dr. Drew has a long history of exploiting celebrities with addiction and involvement in various scandals. How he still has a license to practice after Covid is beyond egregious."
One user emphasized the importance of accountability and added, "Losing his license should be a truly serving to society." Meanwhile, another user inquired, "Where can we report him?"
One social media user raised concerns about the ethical implications of diagnosing someone without conducting an in-person evaluation and wrote, "How can they diagnose somebody without even seeing them in person, that’s unethical, I hope he loses his license."
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