I found disturbing an article in the September 17 issue about a colleague in California, Judith Huff, M.D., who had been rendered an adverse judicial decision concerning a patient who has stalked her periodically and has shown the intent to stalk her again. It included the information that Dr. Huff is faced with upward of $20,000 in legal fees as a result of having to appeal the decision.

I feel fortunate that where I practice, I have always been granted prompt and competent relief by the judiciary or law enforcement agencies the few times I have needed their support and intervention when confronted by patients I considered to be dangerous.

By telephoning her, I learned that Dr. Huff has received no support from her district branch, the California Psychiatric Association, or APA concerning her legal fees. I find this to be more disturbing than the misbehavior of her former patient. I wonder if anyone else does. I intend to forward a modest contribution to her office at 513 Center Street, Healdsburg, Calif. 95448, and I want to invite others to do so as well. I would also invite any of the above-named organizations to step forward not to contribute money, but to collect contributions and act as a tax-free instrument of healing in this situation.

Ralph Scoville, M.D.

Bel Air, Md.

Every American psychiatrist—indeed, every American physician—should rise to the support of Dr. David Irwin’s courageous fight against the Gestapo-like tactics of the Montgomery County (Md.) police, who demanded that he surrender to them the names and identifying information of his patients, in the absence of any semblance of probable cause and in defiance of the fundamental principle of patient-therapist confidentiality.

Dr. Irwin is fighting the good fight for all of us, and it is incumbent on APA, as well as his local society, to stand with him in his struggle, all the way to the Supreme Court if need be. I, for one, would be proud to contribute to a legal defense fund, should one prove necessary, and I’m sure that many colleagues would join me in doing so. Dr. Irwin’s cause is our cause and, more importantly, that of our patients as well.

Aaron H. Esman, M.D.

New York, N.Y.