Woman’s Hour psychologist who made false claim in custody battle is found guilty of misconduct
The Autism News | English
A child psychologist who has featured as an expert on BBC’s Woman’s Hour tried to stop a father winning custody of his teenage daughter by falsely claiming he was autistic, a disciplinary panel was told yesterday.
Dr Ruth Coppard told officers involved in family court proceedings that Ian Watson had Asperger’s syndrome, despite having no evidence to back the claim.
As well as Radio 4, Coppard has appeared on the Richard and Judy show and featured in other media.
She was found guilty of misconduct by the Health Professions Council in London yesterday after six out of seven allegations against her were found proved.
The panel also ruled that her fitness to practice was impaired.
The allegations included informing a family court officer that Mr Watson had Asperger’s syndrome – a form of autism – ‘without providing any evidence to substantiate your conclusion’.
Coppard, an NHS psychologist who is based in Barnsley, had also diagnosed the teenage girl as having the same autistic spectrum disorder.
She made damaging comments about them both in a report commissioned by Mr Watson’s ex-wife in November 2008 and a second report for the family GP four months later.
Coppard admitted she ‘crossed the line’ by helping Mr Watson’s former wife and taking her side in the custody dispute.
She told the hearing: ‘I may have been seduced by the mother’s request, but I really believed it was important for people to understand the extent of her difficulties.’
Mr Watson said he had attended treatment sessions with his ex-wife and daughter but had never himself been assessed for any condition.
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