The psychiatrist Louis Morissette, well known for his testimonies in major trials, has just been blamed by his professional order for having carried out an “expertise” 14 years ago… based only on the wind.
“He has committed an act derogatory to the honor and dignity of the profession and is found guilty of having contravened […] to the Professional Code”, ruled without ambiguity the Disciplinary Council of the College of Physicians of Quebec, last week.
The Dr Morissette is notoriously known for his expertise in court, often for the defense. Over the years, he had presented his reports in highly publicized cases, such as those of Karla Homolka and Guy Turcotte. He has already appraised Maurice “Mom” Boucher and Valéry Fabrikant, among others.
In many of these cases he had expressed serious reservations about the mental state of the murderers he was called upon to meet.
But further from the spotlight, he’s done plenty of other appraisals, including one in 2008 that landed him in hot water.
At the time, Louis Morissette had accepted a mandate from the University of Ottawa. Dean André Lalonde seemed to have a grudge against physics professor Denis Rancourt. And as part of disciplinary action against the latter, he had ordered a psychiatric opinion.
The Dr Morissette had accepted, even offering his recommendations as to the measures to be taken against M. Rancourt, a supposedly dangerous man of whom he had drawn an alarming portrait. The professor was eventually fired.
no meeting
The problem is that the psychiatrist never tried to reach the person he was “appraising”. Worse still, he relied solely on a meeting with the dean, who provided false information and excerpts from radio shows chosen by the latter.
In the end, the psychiatrist’s opinion was worth nothing, to the point where the Disciplinary Council even refused to qualify it as “opinion, assessment or expertise”.
“By accepting such a mandate and by carrying it out as he did, by associating his name, his title and the credibility that this confers on him, it is to the whole profession that he is umbrating”, lamented the Disciplinary Board.
long saga
If Louis Morissette found himself blamed 14 years later, it is because of the determination of Professor Rancourt, since retired, who fought all this time to clear his name, despite all the pitfalls put in his way. university and the psychiatrist’s lawyers.
The trustee of the College of Physicians had also rejected his complaint, so he had filed a private one, which was finally successful. On several other counts, however, Louis Morissette was acquitted.
“It was really a battle of David against Goliath, he commented to the Newspaper. I was told that my complaint had no value, it was a long fight, but now I am relieved and very happy with this victory. »
It now remains to determine the sanction to which the D will have to facer Morissette. On this subject, Mr. Rancourt affirmed that he would ask for a temporary revocation of the psychiatrist’s license to practice, without being able to advance on the duration.
A penalty hearing is expected to be held shortly.