Psychiatrist sentenced

Monday, 1st of May 2006

A psychiatrist sentenced for rape, resumes work after one year

Vincent Martin, psychiatrist, condemned for sexual abuse, may resume work at the end of this year. Indeed, the National Medical Order has only suspended him for one year. In October last year, Vincent Martin, a judicial and TV psychiatrist, was sentenced to four years in prison with respite for rape of and indecent assault on six female patients. The victims had lodged a complaint in 2003.

They had consulted Mr Martin as victims of a prior rape. The judge had been very hard on the defendant, without being able to ban him from exercizing his profession, for such a decision falls to the National Medical Order. On December 5th, this one has suspended him for one year. This means that he will be allowed to practice as soon as next December 6th. The lawyer of one of the victims, Christine Mussche, does not hide her amazement. The victims do not know that Mr Martin has only been suspended for one year because decisions of the National Medical Order are not communicated. According to Mrs Mussche, « if they know this, they will violently react ». Suspension cannot be extended, even if the psychiatrist is condemned in appeal. « The Order can only suspend him after new facts has happened », psychiatrist Uyttendaele says. He is vice president of the West-Flanders section of the National Medical Order. Mr Uyttendaele justifies this suspension :

« It is out of the question that he settles again in Belgium. He will only have few patients. »