The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

Case between patient and UIHC psychiatrist rescheduled

The trial in a case involving a University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Associate Professor of psychiatry Sergio Paradiso has been rescheduled.

According to court documents, 29-year-old Sonni Giudicessi sued the state of Iowa and Paradiso after she was under his care at the UI Hospitals and Clinics from 2008 to 2010. During the course of her treatment, Giudicessi had one-on-one therapy sessions with Paradiso, involving disclosure of personal details and history of sexual relationships. Following her hospitalization, Giudicessi and Paradiso sent a series of emails to each other, and Paradiso "engaged in inappropriate and prohibited sex acts and sexual conduct with Giudicessi and used her for his own sexual gratification," according to the documents.

The lawsuit says Paradiso should have known Giudicessi was unable to withhold consent to sex acts with Paradiso because of her emotional condition and treatment known by Paradiso.

The case is reset to go to trial in July 2013.

— by Beth Bratsos

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