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To the Editor:
Dr. Edward R. Clemmens's commentary on the papers of Drs. Sue Elkind and Alice Abarbanel left me bothered and bewildered. What has bewitched Dr. Clemmens, a colleague I respect, into a polemic against two other colleagues I have worked with and value? His position is untenable because he weaves his argument out of statements that go entirely unsupported. Where he does quote, the quotation is totally out of context.
Dr. Clemmens sets the stage for his opinions with what I consider to be rather resigned comments. Of course, professional organizations do what they can to address the ethical violations of members, but, as I am reminded regularly through disturbing conversations with colleagues and consultations with patients, their so-called best is often inadequate. Dr. Clemmens must be aware of how often flagrant ethical violations are ignored by organized psychoanalysis and its constituent disciplines and patients pay the price. He must recognize that we can and have to do better. Dr. Clemmens views the papers in the context of ethics violations. But this is not what the papers are about. Ethical breaches may occasion ruptured terminations