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Accusations of Abuse in Institutions

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Sunday Star Times
March 17, 2002

Lake Alice boss defiant in face of claims
by Graeme Hammond

The psychiatrist at the centre of the Lake Alice hospital scandal has shrugged off the prospect of facing criminal charges over the alleged abuse of child patients.

Dr Selwyn Leeks, 72, who was head psychiatrist at Lake Alice in the 1970s when patients were allegedly punished with electro-convulsive therapy, said he was not bothered that criminal complaints from 34 former patients had been laid with New Zealand police.

"I'm not worried," he said. "This has all been dealt with before.

"And I'm still practising."

Leeks continues to run his private psychiatry practice in Melbourne despite pressure by other psychiatrists to have him struck off the medical register.

Leeks still takes new patients referred to him by GPs.

The sign on the smoked-glass door of his office prominently advertises his Diploma of Child Psychiatry. But pressure is increasing on Victoria's Medical Practitioners Board to have him deregistered for his part in the activities at Lake Alice almost 30 years ago.

The Royal Australian and NZ College of Psychiatrists has repeatedly told the board he should be struck off.

Dr Louise Newman, chair of the college's faculty of child and adolescent psychiatry, said Leeks' use of ECT, documented in the NZ inquiry that led to the $6 million compensation payout, amounted to child abuse.

"We urged action against Dr Leeks several years ago.

"We have explained again and again to the Medical Practitioners Board that our opinion is he shouldn't be practising."

She said his patients had probably either been referred by GPs unaware of the Lake Alice controversy or had been seeing him before the issues became public.

Although the board has the sole power to deregister Leeks, it has so far declined to act, saying its inquiries are continuing.

According to Craig Patterson, executive director of the RANZCP, the board is hamstrung because no complaints have been made since Leeks began practising in Victoria despite a call for disaffected patients to come forward.

"There is no lack of will to act against him," he said.

"There is simply insufficient evidence from anyone here.

But if criminal charges were laid against him, that would be enough."

But Newman said the medical aboard already had enough to work with.

"The complaints have been fully investigated in New Zealand.

"Damages have been paid and an apology given to his patients.

"That should be enough for the medical board."

The board was last week reviewing documents - medical records and statements from plaintiffs - that have been submitted to police in New Zealand.

Leeks is no longer registered in New Zealand, but a spokeswoman for the Medical Council said it was only because he was no longer a resident.

"He was removed, but it wasn't for disciplinary reasons," she said.

Leeks has specialised in child psychiatry since arriving in Melbourne in 1978.