Doctor Who Warned of Spirit Lake Abuse Is Reprimanded
A federal health services psychologist who told superiors that an American Indian tribe was ignoring widespread child abuse on a North Dakota reservation has been reprimanded and reassigned, according to federal officials and documents.
The psychologist, Michael R. Tilus, director of behavioral health at the Spirit Lake Health Center on the Spirit Lake Indian reservation, describes himself as a whistle-blower. He wrote in an e-mail to state and federal health officials this spring about an “epidemic” of child abuse on Spirit Lake, which is in a remote area of northeastern North Dakota.
Among the recipients were officials with the Department of Health and Human Services and the Indian Health Service, which oversee most health care on Spirit Lake.
Dr. Tilus wrote in the e-mail that he had lost confidence in the ability of tribal leadership to protect children.
Federal health officials responded this month by issuing a letter of reprimand to Dr. Tilus, rescinding a scheduled promotion, and transferring him to the agency’s regional headquarters in South Dakota.
The Spirit Lake reservation has been buffeted by accusations of child abuse and neglect during the past 15 months.