Judge sides with Sideris, denies state medical expert access to his doctors

SALEM – A Superior Court judge has denied a state medical expert’s request to speak to suspended Peabody police officer George A. Sideris’ treating physicians.Assistant District Attorney Karen H. Hopwood filed a motion last week in Salem Superior Court to allow access for the commonwealth’s independent medical expert, Dr. Malcolm Rogers, to discuss with Sideris’ treating physicians his diagnosis, treatment and current medications in order to better provide a more thorough independent evaluation as to his competency to stand trial.Sideris, 36, charged with beating his elderly mother in 2004, strongly objected that the commonwealth have access to his treating physicians, and Whitehead agreed, saying the commonwealth’s medical expert will have to work with what he has to make his independent evaluation as to Sideris’ competency to stand trial.”I don’t think the defendant (Sideris) has an obligation to provide any information he does not want to provide,” Whitehead ruled, while adding he would like to “get the whole picture himself, but I don’t think we can do that.”During the hearing, Sideris repeatedly tried to tell Whitehead that his life has been turned upside down and that he is being harassed by Peabody police, but Whitehead patiently explained to Sideris that the hearing concerned talking to his treating physicians and that he was not getting off the issue.Sideris’ defense lawyer Steven J. Rappaport also told Whitehead that Sideris does not talk to him since he questioned his mental status last June on the eve of trial and fears he is without counsel, suggesting another attorney or guardian be appointed to help Sideris with his legal matters, but Whitehead declined saying the court first had to get the report and see what it says.The judge set down the case to April 3 for a status review and medical report from Dr. Rogers.Sideris, who lives in an apartment on Walnut Street, maintains he is competent to stand trial, but Bridgewater State Hospital psychologist, Dr. Katherine Herzog, says he is not competent, but is not a danger to himself or anyone else and does not need to be confined to a mental institution.Sideris is accused of beating his then 73-year-old mother, Melpomeni Sideris, into a coma on Thanksgiving Day 2004 at their Ellsworth Road home in Peabody.Mrs. Sideris, now 76, was in a coma for several weeks following the incident and eventually emerged, but never returned home. She currently is living in a Lynn nursing home and Sideris is allowed supervised visits with his mother.