Sexual Accusations and Social Turmoil: What Can Be Done

A world-famous psychiatrist, former president of the American Psychiatric Association, is falsely accused by a former patient. He describes his nine year ordeal and presents an overview of the sexual crisis in our time. Jules masserman, m.d. with contributions by Christine McGuire Masserman

The author was sued by a patient for a sexual assault. Thorough medical, laboratory and police investigations proved the allegations false, but the attendant publicity initiated a decade of legal, professional and social stresses for the author and his wife Christine, a renowned educator who describes the couples ordeal and discusses measures that would be helpful to others similarly traumatized in this time of sexual witchhunts.

Sexual Accusations and Social Turmoil also elaborates a background theme: our erotically obsessed society which, as in medieval times, seeks individuals on whom to project its guilts. In illuminating perspectives topical chapters trace the origin, biologic basis, and evolution of sexuality, its relationship to other fundamental human emotions and its historical, cultural and religious expressions. Of special concern is the explosion of malpractice suits, recovered memories and the serious social problems related to current associations of eroticism and violence.

The book offers specific recommendations for improving the sexual education of our youth, cultural reorientations, and proposed juristic reforms.

In 1984, Masserman, an internationally prominent Chicago psychiatrist, was accused of sexual assault by Barbara Noel, a patient of more than 18 years. According to the Massermans, medical and police investigations proved the allegations false (and in copies of reports included in the appendix Noel admits she might have been dreaming), but the surrounding publicity, say the couple, put them through a decade-long ordeal on legal, professional and social fronts. A 1992 book and subsequent TV film telling Noel's story prompted Masserman, now 89, to tell his own. Masserman discusses the nature of sexual accusations, malpractice suits and recovered memories and proposes juristic reforms, noting the limited avenues of redress for victims of false sexual accusations. Of particular interest is how malpractice insurers use actuarial studies to determine whether to settle or litigate--a client's culpability being secondary to cost efficiency. Masserman's version of events make an interesting read, but the book lacks focus. His later chapters on sexuality don't really connect to the book's main theme--how could such a "bad" thing happen to such a "good" person? Attorney Barbara W. Stack ler's epilogue offers one insight. Noel, she says, was under Masserman's care for severe psychological problems associated with personal and professional failure. "Like an Ayn Randian pariah, it occurred to Ms. Noel that the fame and fortune she so desperately sought could be gained vicariously. . . . Why not exploit the celebrity of Jules Masserman?" Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

This is a peculiar book. In Part 1, Masserman discusses the civil suit brought against him by Barbara Noel alleging sexual abuse and misconduct as described in Noel's You Must Be Dreaming (LJ 9/1/92). He then describes the personal suffering the suit caused him and his wife and expresses concern over the proliferation of sexual abuse allegations in the media and in the courts. In Part 2, he discusses sexuality from the broader perspectives of biology, history, and philosophy. Masserman does present a convincing reply to Noel's charges and to what seems to be the more damaging circumstance of his settling three other such cases out of court. The book, however, is a patchwork of ideas, alternating between autobiography, sociobiology, and testimonial, no part of which is dealt with in sufficient length to be intellectually satisfying. Nevertheless, it is recommended to libraries where Noel's book circulated well.
Bonnie Hoffman, Stony Brook, N.Y.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.