Charging that Sushant Singh Rajput’s mental health therapist Susan Walker Moffat had violated professional ethics and patient confidentiality by disclosing details of the actor’s mental health, senior
Mumbai BJP leader Ashish Shellar on Friday demanded that action be initiated against Susan for trying to prejudice the investigations and violating the Mental Health Act.
In a joint letter addressed to the Mumbai Police commissioner, Joint Director of CBI, Mumbai, Manoj Shashidhar, the officials of ED and other agencies, Shelar alluded to a media interview, in which she “has revealed confidential aspects of Sushant Singh Rajput's mental health state”.
“Her actions seem prima facie in violation of the Mental Health Act 2017 and her India residency visa conditions. Medical and mental health professionals hold the highest level of standards and ethics when it comes to confidentiality and reveal details only after following due process of law, as they are liable to face strict legal action for violating Indian Mental Health Act, 2017,” Shelar wrote.
“Two main questions which are in public interest need immediate answers A.) What motivation or who made Susan Walker violate professional ethics, patient confidentiality, violate Mental Health Act and Indian law by disclosing details of Sushant's health to influence the course of police investigations. B.) What or who made Susan Walker breach confidentiality, knowing full well that her mental health practise, which is rumored to earn her upto crores rupees per year, will be badly affected by her disclosure?,” Shelar stated.
Shelar urged the Mumbai to take steps to cover following angles in this matter act against Susan Among other things, the BJP leader said: “As Susan Walker is foreign citizen, steps be taken to ensure Susan remains available for investigation in Mumbai.
Susan Walker should be summoned for further detailed questioning.
Mumbai Police must initiate action against Susan Walker as her unethical actions of disclosing Sushant Singh's mental health details is a direct violation of Mental Health Act , 2017 Section 23(2) and her actions attract punishment including criminal prosecution, fines and jail sentence on conviction and seeks to prejudice the investigation angle of the Police. 4. How is Susan Walker practising in Mumbai”.
“Is she authorised to practise in India. Is she or her clinic registered with authorities and BMC? Has Susan Walker registered with the Rehabilitation Council of India and is she accredited to any registered and recognised body of mental health professionals in India, which allows her to practise?
The counselling, medicines, treatment methods suggested to Sushant Singh by Susan Walker, without any license or permission to practise in India is illegal. This must be probed for its effect on Sushant's actions leading up to his death,” Shelar wrote in his letter.