False Memories

Some false memories linked to mental health negligence

Mental health negligence may occur when a patient experiences false memories, or repressed memories. The condition is known as false memory syndrome.

Some mental health professionals believe that many of the most common psychiatric disorders are the direct result of childhood trauma. Employing hypnosis or guided imagery, they sometimes negligently lead their patients to believe that their illness is the result of often very bizarre, early experiences. The mental health professionals also may provide the controversial self-help book that examines "forgotten" memories of abuse, The Courage to Heal. Patients are sometimes negligently induced to believe that they were the victims of graphic sexual abuse or that family members were leaders of satanic cults who forced them to engage in horrendous acts of violence.

Delayed memories are not reliable

Unfortunately, many patients come to fully believe that these are accurate memories from their childhood, without having received warnings that delayed memories are not reliable and are uncertain. Because of the mental health professional's negligence, the patient's newly discovered memories become the patient's new reality and often leads to greater depression and an increased sense of hopelessness.

All too often, the patient is thrown into even greater despair, leading to tremendous psychological turmoil and sometimes suicide. Where a mental health professional fails to give proper documented warnings about the nature of memory and has negligently engaged in memory retrieval, he or she has acted negligently and will be liable to the patient for any injury that results.

Attorney Skip Simpson is nationally recognized for his expertise in suicide and repressed memory cases. He settled the first case ever brought by a sexual abuse "retractor" against a therapist, based on repressed memory issues. Since that first case, he has handled and tried many other false memory cases very successfully.

Contact our law firm

If you or a loved one experienced false memories due to mental health negligence, contact an experienced lawyer today. For a free consultation, call 214-618-8222 or fill out our online contact form.

The Law Offices of Skip Simpson – fighting for justice, one client at a time.