Summary Suspension Of OBGYN For Alleged Sexual Assaults: Indiana’s Attorney General filed on January 13, 2023 a Petition for Summary Suspension (“Petition”) with the Medical Licensing Board of Indiana seeking the summary suspension of an Indiana OBGYN who is accused of sexually assaulting patients during office examinations including taking photographs of patients’ private areas.
The Petition alleges in part: “On June 27, 2022, January 4, 2023, January 3, 2023, and January 11, 2023, the OAG received consumer complaints filed against Respondent, and an investigation was then initiated as authorized by Ind. Code § 25-1-7-5(b)(4).”
“On December 29, 2022, Patient A made a Facebook post (the “post”) on her private Facebook page stating that she was sexually assaulted by a gynecologist during a regular examination and that photographs were taken. Patient A stated that taking photographs without consent or for no medical purpose is not standard practice and if anyone else had ever had such occur to message her so she could provide them with information as to who they should contact to make a report if they so wished. Patient A’s husband shared the post on his private Facebook page and the post was then shared by a local amateur news Facebook group. Within thirty (30) minutes of making the post, Patient A began receiving messages from women asking if she was talking about Respondent … At least twenty (20) to twenty-five (25) women have contacted Patient A thus far.”
“At a 2017 appointment, Patient B informed Respondent she had a lump on her vulva and asked if he could examine it. Respondent looked at the lump and proceeded to take a photograph of her mons pubis on his cellphone, without asking for consent. At a January 2019 appointment, Respondent asked Patient B if she was sexually active. Patient B informed Respondent she was a virgin. Respondent asked if she had a boyfriend and if he “finger[s]” her, or performs oral sex on her. Patient B indicated no and Respondent replied by saying “Oh, you’re so pure”. Also at the January 2019 appointment, Respondent stated, “If you aren’t sexually active within the next year, I will have to manually break your hymen because it’s hard for me to see” … Patient B learned there were six (6) photographs in total of the lower half of her body in her medical chart from Women’s HealthCare. Included in the photographs were photographs of her mons pubis from 2019. Patient B does not recall consenting to photographs being taken in 2019.”
“On January 22, 2015, Patient C presented to Respondent for a six (6) week postpartum follow up appointment. During this appointment, Respondent performed a breast examination. Respondent “tweaked” Patient C’s nipple, causing it to become erect, and then applied pressure, causing milk to be expressed. Patient C was embarrassed as the topic of breastfeeding was never discussed between Patient C and Respondent before he touched her in such a way. She did not understand why a breast examination was being conducted for a postpartum follow up, particularly when she did not raise any concerns with regard to lactation. Also during this appointment, Patient C felt Respondent inappropriately touched her during her pelvic examination. Patient C felt that Respondent’s touches were “light and rubbing”, rather than intentional, like all other providers she had previously had, and has had since. At one point, Respondent moved his thumb in a singular upward stroke across her clitoris. Patient C was so surprised by this, she jumped. She had never had a provider touch her in such a manner … Detective Maller then informed Patient C there were photographs of her body in her medical record from Women’s HealthCare.”
“Patient D felt that both the breast and pelvic examinations were very slow and lingered. During the breast examinations, Respondent would take his time, massage Patient D’s breasts, and pinch her nipples at the end. Patient D sometimes found the examinations to even be painful. During the pelvic examinations, Respondent inserted his finger(s) into Patient D’s vagina, moved them in and out, and lingered. He asked her to “squeeze” several times while his fingers were inserted. At one appointment, he had her sit up while his fingers were inserted. Respondent also performed three (3) anal examinations on Patient D. He inserted what she believed to be more than one (1) finger into her rectum and pushed. Patient D found it was so painful that she was brought off the examination table and Respondent had to push her back down.”
The Indiana Attorney General’s Petition states: “Pursuant to Ind. Code 25-1-9-10, Respondent represents a clear and immediate danger if allowed to continue to practice. WHEREFORE, pursuant to Ind. Code 4-21.5-4, Petitioner requests that this Board set this matter for an emergency hearing on Petitioner’s Petition, grant Petitioner’s Petition, and suspend Respondent’s license for a period of not more than ninety (90) days, and any other relief provided for by law.”
Cause Number: 2023 MLB 0001.
If you or a loved one were harmed as a result of a sexual assault by an OBGYN in Indiana or in another U.S. state, you should promptly find an Indiana medical malpractice attorney, or a medical malpractice attorney in your state, who may investigate your sexual assault malpractice claim for you and represent you or your loved one in a sexual assault medical malpractice malpractice case, if appropriate.
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