Shrink punished for speech?

Here's a chilling item if you believe that free speech should be interpreted with a wide latitude. A 60-year-old psychiatrist in Oregon has run afoul of the State for discussing the "New World Order" with his patients.

A state government panel in Oregon has barred a psychiatrist from practicing medicine because he talked to his patients about the "new world order," saying such discussions could cause "emotional
duress."

George F. Wittkopp, M.D., 60, signed a disciplinary order by the Oregon Board of Medical Examiners on Feb. 3, agreeing to stop practicing medicine due to "unprofessional conduct and repeated acts of negligence," according to a report in the Portland Oregonian.

"This is all about religion and politics," Wittkopp told the paper. "It's not about competence."

That's right, your eyes do not decide you. Dr. Wittkopp has agreed to quit his practice in lieu of paying a $5,000 fine and attending some sort of psychological rehab or training.

Wittkopp is among those who actually believe there is a movement afoot to establish "a world government, a world economic system, and a world religion." What a silly notion! No one has proposed such a thing except for certain influential people directly and indirectly linked to the United Nations.

The medical examiners allege that Wittkopp inappropriately prescribed medications to six patients, based on records they examined, and:

In 2003, the board decided Wittkopp's practice of talking to patients about the "new world order" reflected "poor medical judgment that could be destabilizing and cause patients to suffer mental and emotional duress."

It would be easier to file all of this under "Crazy & Not Easily Believed" except that we're coming across more and more of it, and the file is bulging.