Abstract

This study examined professional disciplinary actions against psychologists, psychiatrists, and nonpsychiatric physicians by the California Medical and Psychology Boards. Archival records of the final disciplinary decisions against 553 professionals were compared to determine whether differential treatment existed between the three professional groups. ;It was determined that psychologists received more severe disciplinary sanctions from the Board of Psychology than did psychiatrists and nonpsychiatric physicians from the California Medical Board for the same offenses. It was also determined that nonpsychiatric physicians received more severe disciplinary sanctions by the California Medical Board than did their psychiatric counterparts for the same professional violations. The implications of such findings and the need for further research are discussed