Psychiatrist stripped of license in gun case

AUGUSTA – A psychiatrist from Yarmouth who sold a gun to a patient has been stripped temporarily of his license to practice in Maine.

The Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine issued a reprimand to Joseph Ruffner and placed his license on probation for five years. During that period, Ruffner’s practice must be monitored by a board-approved physician.

Ruffner also must pay a $1,000 fine and complete board-approved education in ethics and doctor-patient boundaries.

Ruffner signed a consent agreement stating the board had sufficient evidence to conclude that his sale of a firearm to a psychiatric patient under his care was a breach of ethics.