New York City Urologist Dr Darius Paduch Accused of Sexually Assaulting Male Patients Under The Guise of Medical Treatment
MANHATTAN, NEW YORK (September 30, 2023) – New York City urologist Darius Paduch is facing additional lawsuits by some 58 new victims who are accusing him of sexual abuse.
The victims have described themselves as adult male patients, though some were minors when the alleged abuse took place. They have accused Dr. Darius Paduch of sexual abuse under the guise of medical treatment.
Numerous victims also claim that they were raped, forced to undergo surgery without anesthesia. Some are even claiming that they were deliberately fed addictive opioids.
The disgraced urologist worked for New York-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center and Northwell Health. Prior to the lawsuits he was indicted in April on federal charges he abused patients between 2015 and 2019.
Victims have accused the medical institutions he worked for of turning a blind eye. Dr. Darius Paduch has since pleaded not guilty to the criminal charges.
Liability For Manhattan Physician Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse by medical doctors is unfortunately quite common. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “After analyzing more than 100,000 medical board documents, the AJC found that more than 3,100 doctors had faced public accusations of sexual misconduct from 1999 to 2015. The investigation also revealed a broken regulatory system that too often shielded doctors from accountability.” Unlike many other forms of abuse, doctors are often able to conceal their wrongful acts by claiming their actions serve a legitimate medical purpose. There are many steps that hospital should take in order to prevent sexual abuse.
- Hospitals should establish clear and comprehensive procedures that explicitly prohibit sexual misconduct.
- Hospitals should understand what factors lead to sexual victimization and predation.
- Hospitals should implement a comprehensive reporting system for sexual misconduct.
- Hospital should thoroughly screen doctors and all healthcare professionals that see patients.
- Hospital should encourage chaperones and third-party witnesses during sensitive clinical examinations.
It is illegal for medical doctors in New York to touch the private areas of patients when this serves no legitimate medical purpose. Pursuant to New York Penal Law Sections 130.52, “a person is guilty of Forcible Touching when he or she intentionally, and for no legitimate purpose, forcibly touches the sexual or other intimate parts of another person for the purpose of degrading or abusing such person or for the purpose of gratifying the actor’s sexual desire.” Doctors that violate this statute could face criminal repercussions for their actions.
A doctor’s employer could also face civil liability if they sexually abused a patient. Hospitals have a legal obligation to protect patients from reasonably foreseeable sources of harm. This includes assaults from medical professionals as well as third parties. When a hospital has actual or constructive notice that a doctor poses a threat to patients, they must take action. Failing to take action could form the basis of a negligence claim. there are many steps that should be taken after any instance of sexual abuse by a doctor.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- Surveillance footage should be sought.
- A police report should be created.
- An experienced sexual abuse attorney should be contacted.
By the time a physician is facing criminal charges of sexual abuse, there were likely dozens of red flags that their employer missed. Sadly, medical professionals will often look the other direction when they suspect that sexual abuse may be taking place. Any person that is sexually abused by a doctor in New York may have legal recourse through a civil claim.
Investigating Manhattan Physician Sexual Abuse
We at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. extend our best wishes to all of the people who have been affected by the actions of Dr Darius Paduch. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. As more and more victims are coming forward, the scope and scale of the abuse is becoming clearer by the day. It is our sincere hope that there is accountability for what took place.
Have you or someone that you care about been harmed by the abuse of a New York medical doctor? You may have legal recourse through a civil claim. Our team of sexual abuse attorneys are here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that abuse victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any incident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (516) 908-9792.
