Brown Prof. of Psychiatry Sanctioned for Inappropriate Relationship Still Working at University & VA
Thursday, January 19, 2023
GoLocal reported on Monday that Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at Brown University Amy Cameron has been placed on probation by the Rhode Island Department of Health for an inappropriate relationship.
GoLocal has learned that despite the action by RIDOH, she continues to work at Brown and at the Providence Veterans Administration Hospital, although now in a supervised capacity.
According to Brown’s Vice President Brian Clark, “I can confirm that an appointee named Amy Cameron holds the current role of assistant professor of psychiatry and human behavior. In terms of general background and process: In the case that information regarding an external matter becomes available to Brown, we would fully assess those details in consideration of the University’s policies for appointments.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe VA has taken limited action.
“On January 12, 2023, the Rhode Island Department of Health issued an ‘active probation’ on the license of Dr. Amy Cameron, a psychologist at the VA Providence Healthcare System for breaching several tenants of the American Psychological Association Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct. As of January 17, 2023, Dr. Cameron is still employed at the VA in an administrative, non-clinical role and will be afforded due process as the Providence VA investigates the facts related to the RI DOH ‘active probation’ status of Dr. Cameron,” said John J. Loughlin II | Public Affairs Officer | VA Providence Healthcare System
Cameron has repeatedly refused to respond to questions.
She Violated the Tenets of the Profession
According to the RIDOH finding, the incident was a violation of the “Psychologist Act" by breaching several tenets of the American Psychological Association Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct, specifically:
a. Ethical Standard §3.04 Avoiding Harm-psychologists must take reasonable steps to avoid harming their clients/patients;
b. Ethical Standard §3.05 Multiple Relationships-psychologists who have a professional role with a person should refrain from entering into multiple relationships with the same person if the multiple relationship risks exploitation or harm to the person with whom the professional role exists;
c. Ethical Standard §3.08 Exploitive Relationships-psychologists should not exploit their patient/client relationships
Specifically, the enforcement action cites:
1. That Respondent is a psychologist licensed to practice in the State of Rhode Island under psychology, License Number PS01c558.
2. That at all times relevant hereto, Cameron was employed at Providence Veterans Administration Medical Center in Providence, RI.
3. That according to the Complaint, Respondent began a clinical relationship with Patient 1 on or about November 2014, The clinical relationship lasted until approximately May 2015. The relationship between Respondent and Patient 1 became personal in nature. The relationship exceeded the professionally acceptable boundaries for practitioners and patients including frequent after-hours phone calls and texting. Additionally, she failed to document the occurrence and frequency of the after-hours communications in the clinical notes.
4. Cameron acknowledged the relationship with Patient 1 was improper, represented a significant ethical lapse in judgment and expressed remorse in connection therewith.
5. That, nevertheless, the Board noted she did not self-report the incidents, as they were raised by the complainant.
6. That the conduct described in the Complaint and in Paragraph 3, 4, and 5 above violated §5-44-18 (6) of the "Psychologist Act" by breaching several tenets of the American
As conditions of the enforcement action, Cameron must complete a number of actions per the agreement:
Complete required continuing education credits ("CECs") required for licensure and previously acquired CECs on ethics and boundaries.
She will seek and obtain clinical supervisory consultation with a supervisor at her current employer -the Veterans Administration, during the probation period.
