From BristolLive: “A prominent psychiatrist who opened the UK’s first clinic using ketamine to treat patients here in Bristol has been suspended for 12 months after having a sexual relationship with a former private patient who has since died [by suicide]. Dr Benjamin Sessa’s fitness to practice was found to be impaired by a tribunal.
Dr Sessa – whose area of practice was in North Somerset according to the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) – admitted all the allegations and has apologised for his actions. Dr Sessa treated the woman – known as Patient A – for nearly two years. There was no implication during the tribunal that his involvement led to her death.
The psychiatrist then discharged her from his care and shortly after engaged in a sexual relationship with her that lasted six months. Dr Sessa also consulted Patient A in a pub whilst she was drinking alcohol.
Dr Sessa is a psychiatrist known for being a vocal advocate of the use MDMA and psychedelics in a therapeutic setting. Back in 2021, he was behind the UK’s first psychotherapy clinic using ketamine to treat patients –Â here in Bristol.
He was also featured in the BBC documentary Drugsland, the Netflix documentary ‘How to Change your Mindâ and also gave a TEDxTalk at the University of Bristol called ‘is MDMA psychiatry’s antibiotic?â Documents from the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service state that Patient A – who has since died – was vulnerable due to a variety of mental health conditions Dr Sessa was aware of.
The doctor told the tribunal he knew she had a history of self-harm and overdoses, but said he was not aware that she had tried to take her own life during the course of their relationship.”
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