A News 12 New Jersey I-Team investigation into a well-known psychologist has led some lawmakers to take action.
Last fall, the I-Team investigated whether Dr. Marsha Kleinman crossed the line with her child patients and whether the state acted quickly enough to take action. On Monday, state senators took steps to force state licensing boards to act on complaints in three months or less.
The state attorney general says Kleinman may have implanted false memories of sexual abuse in the mind of a child. The state?s independent expert found evidence of gross negligence, gross incompetence and repeated acts of malpractice during an investigation of Kleinman in 2005. However, the state didn?t take action until two years later.
State Sen. Gerry Cardinale created a package of bills in response to the investigation. A Senate committee has already approved a bill that would require professional boards to act on complaints in 100 days or less. Earlier in the month, Cardinale introduced a bill that would require psychologists videotape any session with a child who is the subject of an abuse allegation.
Meanwhile, the state is still trying to revoke Kleinman?s license. She faces a hearing before an administrative judge this summer.
I-TeamInvestigates: In the Mind of a Child