Harvard Prof Denies Coverup For Psychiatrist

Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry Bernard S. Levy has denied that he covered up for a colleague accused of having an affair with a patient who later killed himself.

Levy said Thursday that he did not know about the sexual misconduct charges against Dr. Margaret H. Bean-Bayog '65 until media coverage of the case began last week, The Boston Globe reported.

State officials are investigating allegations that Bean-Bayog, who is assistant clinical professor of psychiatry, seduced a patient, Paul Lozano, and drove him to suicide.

Lozano, a fourth-year Harvard Medical School student, killed himself with a lethal cocaine injection last April. He was 28-years-old and described as deeply depressed at the time of his death.

Cambridge social worker Amy Stromsten, who treated Lozano briefly in 1987, repeated charges yesterday that Levy attempted to cover up Bean-Bayog's alleged misconduct.

Levy "told me that Dr. Margaret Bean-Bayog had masturbated in front of Paul and that they had a kinky relationship," Stromsten said in an affidavit filed Wednesday.

Levy, a prominent Newton psychiatrist, did not return repeated phone calls yesterday. His answering service said he was out of town.

In addition to denying any wrongdoing, Levy questioned the legality of Stromsten's conduct, the Globe reported.

"If she knew about sexual misconduct, she should have reported it to the Board of Medicine..., but she didn't," he said. "She's in violation of the state law for not making that report."

But Stromsten said late yesterday that she did file a complaint with the state Board of Registration in Medicine in January 1991 and that it was "mysteriuosly lost."

The medical board could not verify receipt ofthe letter, but it released a chronology Thursdaythat made no mention of the letter.

"[Levy] is definitely lying. His history is notso hot," Stromsten said.

Stromston said she called Levy in May 1991 toinquire about the Lozano case.

At that time, Levy told her that Lozano hadcommitted suicide, Stromsten said. Levy also saidthat Bean-Bayog had masturbated in front ofLozano, she said.

"He said it was no big deal. He thought the kidwas crazy so it didn't matter," she said.

Stromston said she asked whether she shouldcontinue referring patients to Bean-Bayog, andthat Levy said yes.

According to the Harvard Medical School,Bean-Bayog's name was taken off all referral listson May 1, 1991.

At the time, Levy was chair of theMassachusetts Medical Society's committee onimpaired physicians.

Bean-Bayog reportedly told the state medicalboard this week that she terminated treatment ofLozano because he refused to submit to specialsupervision by that committee. Lozano was underBean-Bayog's care between July 1986 and June 1990.

According to The Globe, Bean-Bayog referredLozano to the committee because she was afraid hewas emotionally unstable and would be a danger tohis patients at the Medical School.

She also reportedly told the medical board thatshe stopped therapy because he was a difficultpatient with a history of "horrendous child abuse"and was increasingly unable to pay for thetreatment.

The medical board ruled this week thatBean-Bayog engaged in "substandard care" andreferred the case to an appeals division for aformal hearing.

Bean-Bayog, who faces a malpractice andwrongful death suit, has forcefully denied thecharges of sexual abuse, and maintains that hercare of Lozano was completely appropriate.

Bean-Bayog consulted other specialists at leastfive times for advice about treating Lozano,several prominent psychiatrists said this week.

"My understanding of it is that Dr. Bean-Bayogsought numerous consultations on this case," saidDr. Ralph Engle, former president of the BostonPsychiatric Society. "[Bean-Bayog] was told onmany occasions that she shouldn't abandon herpatient because he was suicidal," Engle told TheGlobe.

Bean-Bayog was a part-time, unsalaried facultymember affiliated with the Cambridge Hospital, aHarvard teaching hospital. Lozano go

The medical board could not verify receipt ofthe letter, but it released a chronology Thursdaythat made no mention of the letter.

"[Levy] is definitely lying. His history is notso hot," Stromsten said.

Stromston said she called Levy in May 1991 toinquire about the Lozano case.

At that time, Levy told her that Lozano hadcommitted suicide, Stromsten said. Levy also saidthat Bean-Bayog had masturbated in front ofLozano, she said.

"He said it was no big deal. He thought the kidwas crazy so it didn't matter," she said.

Stromston said she asked whether she shouldcontinue referring patients to Bean-Bayog, andthat Levy said yes.

According to the Harvard Medical School,Bean-Bayog's name was taken off all referral listson May 1, 1991.

At the time, Levy was chair of theMassachusetts Medical Society's committee onimpaired physicians.

Bean-Bayog reportedly told the state medicalboard this week that she terminated treatment ofLozano because he refused to submit to specialsupervision by that committee. Lozano was underBean-Bayog's care between July 1986 and June 1990.

According to The Globe, Bean-Bayog referredLozano to the committee because she was afraid hewas emotionally unstable and would be a danger tohis patients at the Medical School.

She also reportedly told the medical board thatshe stopped therapy because he was a difficultpatient with a history of "horrendous child abuse"and was increasingly unable to pay for thetreatment.

The medical board ruled this week thatBean-Bayog engaged in "substandard care" andreferred the case to an appeals division for aformal hearing.

Bean-Bayog, who faces a malpractice andwrongful death suit, has forcefully denied thecharges of sexual abuse, and maintains that hercare of Lozano was completely appropriate.

Bean-Bayog consulted other specialists at leastfive times for advice about treating Lozano,several prominent psychiatrists said this week.

"My understanding of it is that Dr. Bean-Bayogsought numerous consultations on this case," saidDr. Ralph Engle, former president of the BostonPsychiatric Society. "[Bean-Bayog] was told onmany occasions that she shouldn't abandon herpatient because he was suicidal," Engle told TheGlobe.

Bean-Bayog was a part-time, unsalaried facultymember affiliated with the Cambridge Hospital, aHarvard teaching hospital. Lozano go