A Bryn Mawr psychiatrist whose medical license was revoked for a years-long sexual relationship with a patient she first treated as a Lower Merion High School senior may continue seeing patients while she appeals, a Commonwealth Court judge ruled Monday, Aug. 17.

Judge Stella Tsai found that Amy Mazza MacIntyre, 52, poses no threat to other patients and that closing her practice would cause irreparable harm, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer, which first reported the ruling. Tsai cited a shortage of child and adolescent psychiatrists in the Philadelphia region and noted that hundreds of MacIntyre's current patients would likely not return even if she later won her appeal.

The victim, Justin Kopicki, now 39 and in law school in Oregon, called the ruling a slap in the face.

"The court is basically saying that the public interest is not at risk here," Kopicki told the Inquirer. "Quite frankly, it's an egregious position to take."

The Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine revoked MacIntyre's license on May 28 after finding she engaged in sexual misconduct and inappropriate prescribing. As we reported Aug. 3, the board's investigation found MacIntyre began treating Kopicki in 2004, when he was a 17-year-old referred to her by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for depression and anxiety linked to childhood leukemia. She first had sex with him in early 2011, when he was 24, and the relationship continued through 2017.

During that period, MacIntyre prescribed Kopicki a revolving mix of up to 12 medications, including Xanax and Adderall, without proper medical evaluations, the board found. She also gave him a $5,000 saxophone and a Cartier watch, proposed marriage, hired him to work in her office and took him on trips, according to the board's investigation.

MacIntyre admitted to sexual misconduct and unprofessional conduct during disciplinary proceedings but disputed the improper prescribing findings. The board found her culpable on all counts.

In her Aug. 17 opinion, Tsai wrote that MacIntyre's "actions leading to the instant revocation, although spread over several years, were focused on a single individual" and that she "has treated thousands of patients without reported incident."

MacIntyre's attorney, Gary Samms, said during July 30 oral arguments that his client has treated about 15,000 patients without incident since at least 2017. In a statement to the Inquirer after the ruling, Samms said he was "extremely pleased" and called the decision appropriate.

The state disagrees.

Department of State spokesperson Matt Heckel said the ruling only addressed whether MacIntyre may practice during the appeal, not whether her license should be permanently revoked. The state is fighting the appeal, arguing that no sanction short of revocation would adequately protect the public.

State attorney Dana Archer told Judge Tsai during the July 30 hearing that MacIntyre "did everything that she could to hide" her misconduct and called it one of the board's "worst" cases.

Kopicki cut off contact with MacIntyre in 2017 after she showed up at his father's house yelling and demanding to speak with him. His father called 911. Kopicki first filed a complaint with the board that year, but his lawyers asked him not to cooperate while a separate malpractice lawsuit was pending. MacIntyre settled that Montgomery County case in 2020 for an undisclosed amount. Kopicki filed a second complaint in 2021, prompting the investigation that led to the revocation.

The full appeal remains pending before Commonwealth Court. No hearing date has been announced.