REALL News - Vol 07 No 07 - 1999

Magazine Overview

Title: The REALL News
Volume: 7
Issue: 7
Date: July 1999
Publisher: The REALL News
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of The REALL News focuses on an update to the Bennett Braun case, detailing legal proceedings and settlements involving psychiatrists and psychologists connected to the repressed memory movement. The cover features a quote from James Randi and highlights the settlement of Elva Poznanski's case and her agreement to testify against Bennett Braun and Roberta Sachs.

Update: Bennett Braun Case; Poznanski Settles; Agrees to Testify Against Braun

By David Bloomberg

The lead story in this issue provides an update on the complex case involving psychiatrist Bennett Braun, a prominent figure in the repressed memory movement. As previously reported in The REALL News (Vol. 6, No. 8-10; Vol. 7, No. 2 & 6), the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation (IDPR) filed complaints against Braun, as well as child psychiatrist Elva Poznanski and psychologist Roberta Sachs. These proceedings were initially scheduled for May but were postponed to November to avoid conflict with the Burgus children's final exams.

As of May 26, Braun's attorney had not submitted the required defense materials to the prosecution. An administrative judge had given Braun's attorney until June 1 to provide this information, warning that failure to do so would result in its disallowance. In response, Braun's attorney submitted minimal information and requested a 60-day continuance, despite having handled Braun's case since a civil trial that concluded a couple of years prior. The case involving Roberta Sachs had not yet been assigned a hearing date.

Poznanski Settles and Agrees to Testify

The surprising development detailed in the article is the settlement of Elva Poznanski's case without any disciplinary action against her medical license. Thomas Glasgow, the chief prosecutor, explained in a telephone interview the factors that led to this decision. A key factor was that Poznanski, unlike Braun and Sachs, appeared to be involved in only this single complaint. Braun and Sachs, on the other hand, had faced multiple complaints and played more significant roles in the treatment of the individuals involved.

Poznanski, a child psychiatrist, was brought into the case due to her involvement in the treatment of the children. Her role was described as minor in the overall scheme of things, particularly in contrast to Braun and Sachs. She treated the children as if they had been abused, rather than as part of a satanic cult.

Poznanski "took remedial action" by withdrawing cooperation from Braun and Sachs partway through the treatment when Braun allegedly brought guns in with the children. Although she had initially cooperated with Braun due to his standing in the psychiatric community, she eventually decided that the situation had escalated too far. She did, however, keep the children under her care, believing that Patricia Burgus was not a fit mother at the time, even though Burgus remained under Braun's care.

Glasgow noted that Poznanski, who is in her seventies, had already suffered significant damage to her reputation due to this case. As part of the settlement, she must step down as the head of child psychiatry at Rush hospital. Furthermore, she has agreed to fully cooperate with the prosecution in this case, which includes testifying against Braun and Sachs. She also committed to cooperating with any federal, state, or local prosecutors who might pursue further cases. When questioned about the possibility of additional cases, Glasgow stated he was not at liberty to discuss ongoing investigations.

Additionally, the settlement requires Poznanski to write to the Board of the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation, explaining her misconduct and the reasons behind it. She is also prohibited from working with any form of recovered memory therapy or with patients alleging satanic ritual abuse in the future.

Glasgow justified the decision not to take action against her license by citing her age, her cooperation, and her status as the least culpable of the three individuals. He emphasized that having an insider's perspective from Poznanski would provide powerful testimony, negating the need for her separate prosecution. He stated that her testimony aligns with the Department's objectives for the case. The Burgus family, identified as the victims, were consulted and agreed to the settlement before it was finalized.

Glasgow was keen to point out that he would not offer a similar deal to Braun. His sole condition for settling with Braun would be the indefinite suspension of Braun's medical license, which is his ultimate goal in prosecuting Braun anyway.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of The REALL News strongly focuses on legal and ethical issues within the fields of psychiatry and psychology, particularly concerning the controversial topic of repressed memory and its potential connection to allegations of satanic ritual abuse. The publication appears to be critical of practices that may lead to false accusations or misinterpretations of patient experiences, as evidenced by its coverage of the Bennett Braun case and the proceedings against his colleagues. The editorial stance seems to be one of skepticism towards unsubstantiated claims and a focus on due process and professional accountability within the medical and legal systems. The inclusion of a quote from James Randi, known for debunking paranormal and pseudoscientific claims, further suggests a critical and evidence-based approach to the subjects covered.