Crime & Safety
Doylestown Psychiatrist Arrested After Allegedly Molesting Patients
Basem Shlewiet was arrested Thursday afternoon at his office at 16 N. Franklin Street.
A Doylestown Borough psychiatrist has been charged with indecent assault after police allege he touched three young women during treatment.
According to information from the Bucks County District Attorney’s office, Basem Shlewiet, 42, was arrested Thursday afternoon at his office at 16 N. Franklin Street in Doylestown.
Doylestown Borough Police say they received reports from three different young women who alleged they had been “touched in a criminal manner” by Shlewiet during treatment. Officials investigated Shlewiet from April to December 2013, according to information from the District Attorney.
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The women were 14, 17 and 22 at the time of the alleged crimes.
The Intelligencer reported reported that two of the victims told authorities that Shlewiet touched their breasts. The third victim, who was 17, told authorities he touched her vaginal area, according to the Intelligencer report.
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Shlewiet is charged with two counts of Unlawful Contact with a Minor, two counts of Corruption of Minors and seven counts of Indecent Assault. He is being held at Bucks County prison in lieu of 10 percent of $250,000 bail.
On his website, www.doylestownpsychiatry.com, Shlewiet lists Physical and Sexual Abuse/Trauma as one of his treatment specialties.
His bio on the website states he received his general psychiatry training at Albert Einstein Medical Center. His child and adolescent training was completed at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, according to his bio.
In a bio posted on Psychology Today's database of doctors, Shlewiet writes:
"Healing is an art. Healing goes beyond treatment...that is my philosophy...that is how I practice. I practice psychiatry and psychiatric treatment with unparalleled passion and dedication towards my patients and their families. Healing is just a natural outcome. I specialize in the evaluation, treatment and healing of a wide range of emotional, behavioral, and relational difficulties in adults, as well as children and adolescents."
It continues, "Finding a child psychiatrist is often very hard. Finding the right one who can meet your needs and the needs of those you care about most is even a lot more harder. If you are looking for an excellent psychiatrist who can connect with you or your child call me."According to his bio, Shlewiet has been practicing for nine years.
The District Attorney’s Office asks that any additional people who have been subject to any inappropriate contact with Shlewiet call 215-348-6629.
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