SA police psychologist banned for life

The former chief psychologist with the South Australian police has been banned from practising for life, after being found guilty of professional misconduct.

The South Australian Health Practitioners Tribunal has ruled that Douglas Knuckey engaged in an intimate relationship with a serving police officer he was treating between March 2011 and March 2012, contrary to the Australian Psychological Society's code of ethics.

In details published by the Psychology Board of Australia on Wednesday, it was also revealed that Mr Knuckey twice helped his patient deliver her two children into the custody of her violent, estranged husband.

The tribunal found that Mr Knuckey knew or should have known that to take such action might not be safe and was not in the best interests of his patient and her children.

The psychology board first took action against Mr Knuckey in April 2012 when it accepted an undertaking from him that he would no longer practise.

He subsequently surrendered his registration in February last year.

Last month the SA Health Practitioners Tribunal ruled that Mr Knuckey's actions in relation to his patient and her children amounted to professional misconduct.

It ordered Mr Knuckey be permanently prohibited from providing, undertaking or carrying out the services of a psychologist.