Dr. Oziel's Loss of Psychology License Due to Confidentiality Breaches and Inappropriate Relationships

Oziel began working with the Menendez family in 1988, shortly after the brothers were implicated in burglaries. He became a key figure in the case when Erik Menendez confessed to him about the murders of their parents in a therapy session. However, this information was leaked to the police by Judalon Smyth, Oziel’s mistress, who claimed that he had shared the details of the confession with her, violating the principles of confidentiality. Following this incident, Oziel faced scrutiny for his professional conduct, leading to the California Board of Psychology stripping him of his license after determining that he had broken confidentiality rules and engaged in sexual relationships with patients.

Key Events Leading to License Revocation

• Confession and Disclosure: Erik Menendez confessed to Oziel about the murders during therapy sessions. This information was not disclosed to authorities until Smyth reported it months later.
• Inappropriate Relationships: Oziel’s affair with Smyth and allegations of sexual relationships with other patients raised ethical concerns about his practice.
• Legal Consequences: In 1997, a state panel accused Oziel of breaking confidentiality and engaging in sexual misconduct, leading to the revocation of his license. Despite the accusations, Oziel maintained that he did not surrender his license due to wrongdoing, claiming he had phased out his practice for business opportunities elsewhere.

Aftermath and Current Status

Following the loss of his license, Oziel moved to New Mexico, where he now operates at the Marital Mediation Center, focusing on helping couples through mediation rather than practicing as a psychologist. While he has publicly denied any wrongdoing, the circumstances surrounding his professional conduct and the Menendez brothers’ case continue to evoke interest and scrutiny in the media.