LANSING, Mich. -- A psychiatrist accused of improper sexual activities with patients, including an accused child killer, was fired Friday by the Mental Health Department.
Mental Health Director Patrick Babcock said the decision to fire Jose Tombo was made following a disciplinary conference at the Northville Regional Psychiatric Hospital, where Tombo was employed.
The doctor, a veteran of about 10 years with the department, can appeal the decision through grievance or arbitration processes. His attorney could not immediately be reached for comment.
The action followed release earlier this week of a report in which Attorney General Frank Kelley suggested that the department consider discharging Tombo. Tombo had been investigated once before in 1980, Kelley noted, but the mental health department closed its own investigation before receiving a state police report on the matter.
Kelley investigated Tombo's activities a second time at the request of Babcock, and said the evidence gathered would have been sufficient to support criminal charges had the incidents not occurred more than six years ago beyond the statute of limitations.
Ronald Bailey, who is charged with kidnapping and murder in the abduction-slaying of a 13-year-old Brighton boy, reportedly told investigators he and Tombo performed sex acts on each other on several occasions in 1976 and 1977, while Bailey was a patient of Tombo's.
Six other patients reported alleged sexual incidents or overtures, and one said Tombo gave him money but did not sexually abuse him.
The attorney general said he would recommend that the Board of Medicine consider revoking Tombo's medical license.
