Maine psychology board reprimands John S. Hale

December 3, 2008

The Maine Board of Examiners of Psychologists formally reprimanded psychologist John S. Hale and placed his license on probation for no less than six months. According to the Board’s Consent Order, the Board received a complaint from Hale’s estranged wife alleging that Hale, among other things, filed a complaint with the state bar association against his wife’s divorce attorney. Hale’s complaint contained mental health diagnostic statements about the attorney despite the fact that the attorney had never been a client or patient of Hale’s nor had there been any other professional relationship between the two. To render such a diagnosis is a violation of the American Psychological Association’s Ethical Principles of Psychologists and state Psychologists Board Rules. Hale’s probation includes disciplinary supervision.

(Consent Agreement, In Re: John S. Hale, Jr., Ph.D., L.A.D.C., Complaint Nos. 2007-PSY-3630 and 2007-ALC-3629, Board of Examiners of Psychologists, 3 December 2008.)