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Mission Viejo Psychiatrist Accused of Dating Patient

An official complaint has been filed against Scott Ispirescu, alleging an inappropriate relationship with one of his patients.

The medical director of Orange Coast Psychiatric Associates on Los Altos has been accused of dating a patient and trying to cover it up.

Scott Ispirescu asked a female patient on a date and told her to start seeing a new psychiatrist Aug. 25 of last year, according to an allegation submitted to the state medical board. But there are no notes saying he referred her to another psychiatrist or stopped treating her, according to the accusation.

He also asked her to "not ... tell other psychiatrists that she had seen him," the accusation says.

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The patient, known as "S.F." in the accusation, told Ispirescu she had recently broken up with her boyfriend and that she had a frontal-lobe problem for which she was taking two prescription drugs.

The frontal lobe helps people choose between good and bad actions, suppress unacceptable social behaviors and recognize future consequences, according to the accusation.

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After three dates, S.F. broke up with Ispirescu, apparently over religious differences, according to the accusation. In two days, the psychiatrist sent her 26 text messages asking to get back together with her, the accusation says.

The psychiatrist dropped by her house twice unannounced, the accusation says, and stopped by her workplace with a dozen roses.

The psychiatrist is accused of violating the state's business codes and could lose his license depending on the decision of the Medical Board of California.


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