Types of Sexual Abuse | Sokolove Law

Examples of Medical Sexual Abuse

During an exam by a doctor, it can sometimes be difficult to distinguish between routine care and medical sexual assault. However, the American Medical Association provides clear guidelines on physician behaviors that are unacceptable.

If you are ever feeling uncomfortable during a medical exam, you can request a nurse or chaperone be present in the room with you while the exam is taking place.

Examples of sexual abuse by a doctor can include:

Asking questions or making jokes about sexual activity that are inappropriate and irrelevant
Committing sexual acts on patients who are either conscious or unconscious
Examining private parts of the body without wearing gloves
Performing unnecessary genital, rectal, or breast exams
Requiring patients to undress parts of their body that are not being examined
Taking inappropriate pictures of a patient with their personal device
Touching themselves inappropriately while conducting an exam

Talking with your children about what is considered sexual abuse by a doctor is crucial for promoting a safe health care environment.

Not sure if what you experienced was sexual assault? We have female case managers on staff who can help you understand what happened and discuss which options may be available to you.

Medical Professionals & Doctors Sexually Abusing Patients

Health care professionals across the country have been accused of sexually assaulting and harassing their patients, leaving deep emotional scars on those they were supposed to be caring for.

Unfortunately, doctors sexually abusing patients is more common than we may think — and many assaults go unreported. Since most medical workers see thousands of patients in a single year, the number of survivors across the United States alone may be staggering.

Damien Knighton | Medical Assistant in Boston

Damien Knighton worked as a medical assistant at Massachusetts General Hospital’s Back Bay Health Center. Lawsuits allege he sexually assaulted at least four men under the guise of providing medical care.

In March 2025, Knighton was found guilty on 6 counts of indecent assault and battery for abusing patients between 2022 and 2023.

Lawsuits claim Damien Knighton:

Brought patients into a different room after their appointments
Told them additional exams were needed and had them undress
Touched patients inappropriately during so-called skin exams
Conducted unauthorized rectal exams without a doctor present

Survivors have also filed lawsuits against Mass General Hospital for allegedly failing to protect patients from Knighton’s abuse.

Dr. Darius Paduch | Urologist in New York City

Between 2003 and 2023, Dr. Darius Paduch worked as a urologist at multiple hospitals in New York City, specializing in male infertility and reproductive health.

Over 300 patients, including at least 6 minors, have accused him of sexually assaulting them under the guise of medical care. He was sentenced to life in prison in November 2024.

Dr. Paduch was found guilty of:

6 counts of inducing a person to travel to engage in unlawful sexual activity
5 counts of inducing a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity

If you suffered abuse under Dr. Paduch’s care, you can still pursue justice by filing a civil sexual abuse lawsuit.

Dr. David Newman | Emergency Medicine Physician in New York

Dr. David Newman, who worked in emergency medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan, was convicted of assaulting four patients who were under his care between August 2015 and January 2016.

In addition to inappropriately touching patients, he also gave one woman unnecessary medication to sedate her while he carried out his assault.

Dr. Newman was charged with:

1 count of first-degree sexual abuse
4 counts of third-degree sexual abuse

He pleaded guilty to all of the charges against him and was sentenced to two years in prison.

Dr. Derrick Todd | Rheumatologist in Massachusetts

Dr. Derrick Todd, a former rheumatologist, has been accused of sexual assault by over 130 patients. A class action lawsuit was filed against Dr. Todd in Suffolk Superior Court on October 11, 2023.

Lawsuits against Dr. Todd allege he:

Performed unnecessary breast, vaginal, and rectal exams on patients
Made inappropriate comments and asked unnecessary sexual questions during exams
Met with patients outside of typical work hours and texted them repeatedly

Dr. Fabio Ortega | OB/GYN in Illinois

At least 46 women have filed lawsuits against the former employers of Dr. Fabio Ortega, who worked as an OB/GYN in the Chicago area.

These lawsuits allege Dr. Ortega’s employers were made aware of his actions — but allowed him to continue seeing patients without a chaperone.

Survivors of Dr. Ortega claim he:

Asked patients inappropriate questions about their sex lives
Called patients late at night and tried to meet them outside of work
Falsified medical records in an attempt to get patients to return to his office
Touched patients inappropriately

Criminal charges were also brought against Dr. Ortega, and he was sentenced to three years in jail. Gynecologists sexually abusing patients underscores the urgent need for oversight within the sphere of women’s health.

Dr. Reginald Archibald | Endocrinologist in New York

For over 30 years, Dr. Reginald Archibald worked as a pediatric endocrinologist at Rockefeller University Hospital in New York, where he specialized in growth disorders and helping children who were small for their age.

In 2018, the hospital notified former patients that Dr. Archibald had been accused of sexual assault. Since then, multiple survivors have come forward — and attorneys estimate more than 1,000 children may have been affected.

Dr. Reginald Archibald is accused of:

Taking photos of children after they undressed
Touching patients inappropriately
Measuring their genitals when erect
Asking them to masturbate during appointments

Despite the hospital receiving reports about his misconduct as early as the 1990s, they allegedly didn’t take meaningful action to investigate the allegations until decades later.

Although Dr. Archibald passed away in 2007, survivors may be able to file a lawsuit against Rockefeller University Hospital for failing to protect them from abuse.

Dr. Ricardo Cruciani | Neurologist in NY, NJ, and PA

Dr. Ricardo Cruciani was a neurologist who specialized in treating patients with chronic pain at several major institutions, including Beth Israel Medical Center, Drexel University, and Capital Health Medical Center.

However, at least 19 former patients have come forward and accused Cruciani of sexually assaulting them before his medical license was revoked in 2017.

In some cases, Cruciani reportedly overprescribed addictive pain medications to vulnerable patients so they would rely on him, then used the threat of withholding refills to force them into performing sexual acts.

In 2022, a New York jury found Cruciani guilty on 12 counts of abuse. He passed away while awaiting sentencing, but survivors may still be able to take legal action against the hospitals that failed to protect them from harm.

Dr. Richard Kauff | Pediatrician in Massachusetts

Dr. Richard Kauff, a former pediatrician in Norwell, Massachusetts has been accused of assault by 24 patients.

Dr. Kauff has been charged with:

13 counts of indecent assault and battery on a child
4 counts of rape on a child

Lawsuits against Dr. Kauff allege he inappropriately touched patients and performed internal pelvic exams, which should not be done during routine pediatric check-ups.

Dr. Kauff retired in 2022. Following the allegations against him, he has agreed to voluntarily give up his medical license and refrain from practicing medicine for the foreseeable future. Dr. Kauff was released on $50,000 bail and had appear in court again on January 11, 2024.

Dr. Robert Hadden | OB/GYN in New York

Dr. Robert Hadden, who previously worked as an OB/GYN at Columbia University Medical Center in New York, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for sexually abusing patients.

He is accused of:

Conducting prolonged breast exams using his whole hand, rather than just fingertips
Convincing women to travel across state lines for exams, during which he abused them
Having patients undress completely when not necessary
Offering unsolicited advice about sex
Touching patients inappropriately and performing oral-genital contact during exams

Despite being arrested by the police after a patient called 911 following her assault, Hadden’s employer allowed him to continue practicing medicine, which put other women in harm’s way.

In May 2025, Columbia reached a $750 Million settlement with 576 survivors. This is reportedly the largest per-plaintiff civil resolution in U.S. history, averaging $1.3 Million per case.

Sanjai Syamaprasad | Northwell Health Sleep Disorders Center

Between at least July 2023 and April 2024, Northwell Health Sleep Center employee Sanjai Syamaprasad reportedly hid cameras in the bathrooms to record patients, visitors, and staff.

Hundreds of individuals at the sleep center and the connected STARS Rehabilitation facility may have been filmed without their knowledge or consent.

In April 2025, a New York grand jury indicted Syamaprasad on 5 counts of unlawful surveillance in the second degree and 2 counts of tampering with physical evidence.