Psychiatrist Accused Of Preying On And Sexting With A Patient

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — A veteran Sacramento psychiatrist has been accused of abuse of power and allegedly preying on a patient.

According to the Medical Board of California, the victim's story started at the Chateau Senior Center in Sacramento where she worked as a caregiver. She apparently had a panic attack, fainted, and was taken to a local hospital.

That's where the reports say she met Dr. Anath Shanmugam to help her work through her past.

She was still recovering as a child sex-abuse victim.

The medical board says Shanmugam began asking the victim about her marriage and her sex life, and then allegedly started down the slippery slope of sexting, allegedly sending texts saying:

"I really dig you; Relax honey, I think I have fallen in love with u"

"my love is unconditional"

"I am 47 and have not felt this way about a woman for 11 years"

Dr. Joseph C. George is a clinical psychologist and an attorney who represents mental-health malpractice victims.

"Patients are incredibly vulnerable in a patient-therapist relationship."

He says when patients walk into a psychiatrist's office, they're expected to leave their safeguards at the door.

"You're encouraged to disarm yourself and open up."

He says predator doctors usually start down a slippery slope of compliments, or maybe inappropriate touching.

"Things never start out, 'Let's have sex.'"

After a two-year investigation, Shanmugam surrendered his license.