Betrayed by a Pediatician

Several months ago, the nationally known pediatrician Dr. Mel Levine surrendered his medical license to the North Carolina Medical Board and agreed to never practice medicine again. For more than twenty years, men had been coming forward to say that Levine had fondled and masturbated them during examinations. Most were being treated for ADD. To date more than 50 victims have come forward, and the allegations made the front page of the New York Times.

Levine was a Rhodes Scholar and the best-selling author of "A Mind At A Time". He appeared on Oprah. Before he became wellknown, boys had complained to Boston Childrens Hospital that he had molested them. The Hospital didn't follow through very well on the complaints. (What is about Boston that attracts pedophiles like Ayres, Dr. Don Rife, Dr. Tobias Friedman and a whole host of others?)

Lisa Belkin, who writes a parenting column for the New York Times Magazine wrote an excellent essay about Levine called "Betrayed by a Pediatrician." In her story, she also writes about her own pediatrician, whose medical license was revoked for molesting young girls.

For copyright reasons, we can't print the entire essay here, but you can see it on this link.

Here's her intro:

March 20, 2009, 3:32 PM

Betrayed by a Pediatrician

By LISA BELKIN

I read today’s news that the pediatrician Melvin Levine had agreed not to practice medicine ever again.

As a reporter who has covered his work on learning differences, I was saddened that such important books were written by such a seemingly flawed messenger.

As a parent I shuddered in the way that parents do when those we trust with our children are shown to be capable of hurting them instead.

Mostly though, I read about Dr. Levine and thought about another doctor — the pediatrician who cared for me through my entire childhood. His medical license was revoked nearly 10 years ago because patients — many of them girls I had grown up with — accused him of molesting them.

A few readers defend Levine, but most do not.

Here are a few of our favorite comments

I take as credible those who acknowledge the importance of prepubescent exams. However the reason for doing them and then not noting them on medical records makes them suspect!

— Diane in PA

A couple of people defend Levine, but the majority of readers do not. Here are a few of our favorite comments from the story.

Some readers defend Levine but most do not.

Here are a few of our favorite comments:

As a resident in pediatrics at Columbia Presbyterian 1984-87, I was trained to ALWAYS have a stand-by in the room with me when examing an adolescent, male or female. Accusations can be devastating, true or not; having that extra person, parent or nurse, in the room may be a problem for privacy but protects both the vulnerable teen and provider.

— SmeisterIt is irresponsible for a medical professional to perform genital exams on minors without a nurse or parent present.— FBF

I take as credible those who acknowledge the importance of prepubescent exams. However the reason for doing them and then not noting them on medical records makes them suspect!

— Diane in PAMy son saw Dr. Levine at UNC during the time he was there. On his first visit Dr. Levine took him into a small room adjoining the primary office to examine him. When my son returned he had a horrified and embarrassed look on his face. I had never seen this look on his face from pediatric exams in the past. I asked him what was wrong. He said he did not like what Dr. Levine had done. I made it clear to Dr. Levine that from that time on I would be present when he saw my son. That was my son’s last exam with Dr. Levine.— Pat Bock