Sexual Assault Lawsuits Against Doctors

Our law firm focuses on sexual assault lawsuits against doctors.

This was not always the case. Our lawyers initially viewed physician sex abuse cases as “one-offs” and focused our attention on school and clergy abuse claims.  We would get cases where the doctor inappropriately touched a patient where the behavior was rampant and abhorrent and chalked it up to the rare awful doctor.

We now know that sexual abuse by doctors is far more common than even imagined ten years ago.  The deeper you go, the more you see tons of doctors who:

• Make inappropriate jokes, remarks, or sexual advances
• Performing unnecessary examinations on private parts
• Taking photographs of a patient’s privates with a personal device
• Touch patients inappropriately
• Take advantage of patients while they are under anesthesia or unconscious

So our lawyers are taking more and more cases where doctors do these awful things.

If you have a case like this, our team is here to help.. For a confidential conversation about your case and your available choices, please contact one of our sexual assault attorneys at 800-553-8082.  Ask to speak to a female lawyer that makes you more comfortable.  You can also fill out this online form and tell us your story. It does not obligate you in any way.

Understanding Sexual Assault by Doctors

Sexual assault in a medical setting can be particularly insidious due to the inherent trust and vulnerability involved in doctor-patient relationships. It can range from inappropriate touching during examinations to more severe forms of abuse, such as voyeurism or coercive sexual acts. Recognizing these violations can be challenging, especially when certain procedures require undressing or physical examination. However, any form of sexual contact or behavior that goes beyond the bounds of professional medical conduct and respect for patient privacy falls under this category.

Prominent Cases and Institutional Failures

Several high-profile cases have brought this issue to light, revealing patterns where medical professionals have abused numerous patients over extended periods. Institutions have been criticized for their failure to adequately address or prevent such abuse, often resulting in significant legal consequences. Notable cases include those of Larry Nassar, Robert Hadden, Harold Bloomfield, Kevin Brown, and Nelson Hendler, each involving a breach of trust and exploitation of patients.

Psychological Impact of Doctor-Committed Sexual Assault

The emotional toll of sexual assault by a doctor is profound and multifaceted, encompassing feelings of betrayal, fear, anxiety, and trauma. Survivors may struggle with long-term psychological issues, including depression, sexual dysfunction, suicidal ideation, and relationship problems. This trauma is exacerbated when the perpetrator is someone as trusted as a medical professional.

Legal Recourse for Survivors

Victims of doctor-perpetrated sexual assault have several avenues for seeking justice. Anyone who has endured sexual abuse by a doctor can file a lawsuit. Such actions not only seek justice and financial compensation for the survivor but also make is safer

Reporting the incident to law enforcement, medical boards, and the respective medical facility is an important first step. Is it necessary to bring a sexual assault lawsuit?  It is not.

Legal action against the offending doctor and possibly the employing institution is another critical step. Personal injury lawyers focusing on sexual assault lawsuits like us can offer guidance and representation in these complex legal matters.

Prevention and Institutional Responsibility

In response to growing and overdue attention to this awfulness, medical organizations and institutions are implementing stricter policies and preventive measures. This includes conducting thorough background checks on staff, establishing clear protocols for examinations, and training on identifying and reporting abuse. While these steps are crucial in preventing future cases of abuse, they also underscore the need for constant vigilance and institutional accountability in safeguarding patient welfare.

Support and Resources

Some of you will find calling a lawyer and getting justice a means of therapy.  Some people need more help. For survivors needing immediate assistance, the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673) is available at all hours  Local support groups, therapists, and counselors specializing in sexual trauma can provide ongoing emotional support and coping strategies.

Examples of Major Doctor Sex Assault Cases

Doctor sexual abuse can sometimes be a “one-off” or isolated incident situation, but more often than not we tend to see cases involving doctors who are basically compulsive sexual predators with hundreds or even thousands of victims. These doctors usually have a very clear pattern to their sexual abuse and they get off on the behavior so they end up repeating it again and again on new patients. Often this pattern of patient abuse continues for years or even decades as victims are either too embarrassed to come forward or their complaints are ignored.

What usually ends up happening is that over time the victim complaints begin to build up and become impossible to ignore and the doctor is criminally charged. Once the doctor is charged criminally, sex abuse lawyers get involved and a growing collection of the doctor’s former victims gradually start to come forward and file civil lawsuits. Below are some of the more infamous recent examples of these dirt doctor cases.

Dr. Fabio Ortega – Chicago, IL

Dr. Fabio Ortega was one of the worst offenders when it came to doctor sexual abuse. If we had a ranking list of the worst dirty doctors, Dr. Ortega would be on it and near the top. Dr. Fabio Ortega was an OB/GYN who practiced in the Chicago suburbs for decades. For well over a decade, Dr. Ortega prayed on female patients and sexually abused them during gynecological exams. Dr. Ortega was charged and pled guilty to numerous sex assault charges in 2021 and was sentenced to several years in prison. A growing number of Dr. Ortega’s former patients are now filing lawsuits against the hospital groups that he worked for alleging that the hospitals ignored complaints and failed to protect patients.

Dr. Robert Anderson – Michigan

Dr. Robert Anderson was a doctor who worked for the University of Michigan for a very long time. For most of his career, Dr. Anderson worked with athletes on University of Michigan sports teams. In 2022, the University of Michigan agreed to pay out $490,000,000 in compensation to a group of over 1,000 former athletes and students at UM who claimed that they were sexually abused by Dr. Anderson during physical examinations.

Dr. Robert Hadden – New York

Dr. Robert Hadden, an OB/GYN from Columbia University in New York, has been accused of sexually assaulting nearly 100 former female patients. The alleged abuse followed a consistent pattern, with Dr. Hadden engaging in inappropriate sexual touching during examinations. Numerous women filed civil lawsuits against Dr. Hadden’s former employers, New York-Presbyterian Hospital and Columbia University Irving Medical Center, for their failure to intervene and prevent the abuse.

Dr. Derrick Todd – Boston, MA

Dr. Derrick Todd was a rheumatologist in the Boston area. From about 2010 to 2021, Dr. Todd regularly sexually assaulted female patients during medical examinations. A growing number of these former patients are filing lawsuits accusing Dr. Todd of performing totally unnecessary vaginal and rectal probes during unrelated medical exams.

Doctor Sexual Abuse Settlements

Below are summaries of settlements in recent cases involving sexual abuse by doctors.

• $157,000,000 (New York 2024): A Long Island pediatrician was found liable for sexually assaulting over 100 child-patients during medical exams. Unfortunately, the verdict will probably not be collectible because there were no third-party defendants and the former doctor himself does not have any money.
• $550,000 (Florida 2023): A young woman was in a hospital in Miami following a serious car accident. While she was recovering from her injuries, a resident doctor at the hospital came into her room on 2 separate occasions and fondled her genitals. The doctor denied that the incidents happened, but the case was eventually settled.
• $490 Million (Michigan 2022): The University of Michigan agreed to a $490 million settlement following accusations by more than 1,000 individuals, including ex-college football players, against former University of Michigan sports doctor Robert Anderson. Allegations claimed that Anderson had subjected them to sexual abuse and assault during routine examinations, with critics contending that the university had not adequately protected them from his actions.
• $71.5 Million (New York 2021): This $71.5 million settlement involved over 70 women who accused former Columbia University OB/GYN Robert Hadden of sexual assault for inappropriate conduct during examinations. Numerous women claimed that Hadden’s behavior escalated during subsequent visits. New York-Presbyterian Hospital and Columbia University Irving Medical Center settled the matter.
• $1.1. Billion (California 2021): In one of the largest doctor sexual assault settlements ever, the University of Southern California agreed to a $1.1 billion settlement after over 700 women accused former USC gynecologist George Tyndall of sexual assault during examinations. Lawsuits contended that USC had neglected to shield them from Tyndall despite being aware of his actions.
• $867,500 (Ohio 2018): $867,500 settlement was reached involving a 46-year-old woman who reportedly developed severe depression and post-traumatic stress disorder after her treating physician, Terrence McCoy, then an internal medicine physician, engaged in a consensual sexual relationship with her while treating her for mental health issues. The plaintiff alleged medical malpractice, claiming that McCoy had failed to adhere to minimal standards of care.

Sample Complaint for Sexual Abuse Against a Doctor

This is an example of a complaint against a doctor for sexual abuse of a patient. This is from an actual case that our firm handled. The victim in this case went to a doctor about a possible fractured ankle and related pain. During the examination of the broken ankle, the doctor, on 2 separate occasions, had the victim remove her pants and inserted his finger into her anus. There was no medical purpose for this and this doctor had a history of complaints from patients about inappropriate touching during exams.

The defendants named in the lawsuit included the doctor and his employer, Kaiser Permanente. The claims against Kaiser were based on allegations that it knew or should have known that this doctor liked to victimize female patients, but did nothing about it. The causes of action included battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, medical malpractice, and negligent hiring and retention.

Contact Us About Doctor Sex Abuse Lawsuits

If you have been the victim of sexual abuse or assault by a doctor, contact our national sex abuse lawyers at 800-553-8082 or contact us online.