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Dr. Balis:
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Hello, this is Dr. Balis.
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Sgt. Keefe:
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Yes, this is Sergeant Tracy Keefe of the San Francisco Police Department. I understand that Mr. Joseph Mazurka is a patient of yours?
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Dr. Balis:
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Yes, we have had a few therapy sessions together. Why, is he in some kind of trouble?
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Sgt. Keefe:
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Yes, you could say that. Could I ask you a few questions about him?
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Dr. Balis:
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What has he done?
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Sgt. Keefe:
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It's a domestic violence situation, and we think drugs were involved as well.
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Dr. Balis:
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What drugs?
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Sgt. Keefe:
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That was one of the things we were going to ask you. We are doing some tests, but the results are not in yet. He did mention that you had him on some medication.
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Dr. Balis:
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Yes, I prescribed an anti-depressant, Prozac. The generic name is Fluoxetine hydrochloride. But it's not the sort of thing that would precipitate violence. Just the reverse, if anything.
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Sgt. Keefe:
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Did you think he was at risk for violent behavior?
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Dr. Balis:
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That sort of thing is very hard to predict.
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Sgt. Keefe:
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Right. But it wouldn't be the first time for this guy, at least according to his wife.
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Dr. Balis:
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Is she okay? Were the kids involved? This is the first I've heard of any of this. What happened?
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Sgt. Keefe:
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Sunday night, she got beat up pretty badly, but she'll be okay. The kids weren't involved in this incident. The neighbors called it in. Apparently the Mazurkas did this a lot, but it's been getting a lot worse lately. Did you know this was going on?
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Dr. Balis:
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Well, we were trying to work through some negative feelings about his wife, and women in general, but I had no way of knowing what he would do.
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Sgt. Keefe:
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Yeah. And I expect that even if you did, you wouldn't tell us about it anyway, right?
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Dr. Balis:
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There is such a thing as doctor/patient confidentiality. I can't go running to the cops whenever my patient tells me something bad about himself. Who would ever tell me anything if I did that? But officer, please understand, if he told me he was going to go kill someone and stormed out of my office, you can bet that I'd give you a call. There's a difference between a patient talking about negative feelings and a patient ready to act on those feelings, and it is often a very difficult line to diagnose.
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Sgt. Keefe:
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Would doctor/patient confidentiality prevent you from telling us if you knew that he was taking other drugs other than the Prozac?
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Dr. Balis:
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That's right. The only knowledge I'd have would be what he told me, and that's certainly covered by the privilege. Look, all I know about this incident is what you just told me. He had an appointment on Monday and he didn't show up. I figured he was just a no show and not that he was in prison. Is he still locked up? Is there a way I can talk to him?
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Sgt. Keefe:
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He was released on bail this morning. I don't know where he's staying, but he's not back home with the wife. She's applied for a restraining order.
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Dr. Balis:
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Is she going to press charges?
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Sgt. Keefe:
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It's hard to say. Usually they don't, once they've cooled down. But we're taking these things more seriously than we used to, so if you hear from him, tell him to stay away from her. We'll definitely take him in if he violates the order.
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Dr. Balis:
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Okay Sergeant. Is there anything else?
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Sgt. Keefe:
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No, that's about it. Just keep an eye on this guy, would you?
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Dr. Balis:
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Well I just see him once a week, if that. But I'll try.
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Sgt. Keefe:
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Thanks for your help then, goodbye.
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Dr. Balis:
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Sergeant, could you give me a number that I could reach you if I need to?
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Sgt. Keefe:
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Sure, you can reach me through the main switchboard. That's 553-0123.
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Dr. Balis:
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Thanks, I got it. Goodbye.
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###
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Doctor Balis' Notes on this Telephone Call
Transcripts of Joseph Mazurka's Therapy Sessions
