Lawsuit Information Center
Doctors occupy a position of deep trust, especially when patients are vulnerable or undergoing intimate examinations. Some exploit that trust. Patients who have been sexually assaulted or abused by physicians, OB-GYNs, or other healthcare providers may have civil claims against the doctor and, when the evidence supports it, the hospital or medical practice that allowed the abuse to happen.
One of the first questions we ask in a doctor sexual abuse case is who else knew. Was there a history of complaints? Did other patients raise concerns? Did the hospital choose to protect the doctor instead of protecting patients? Often, the truth is hidden in medical records, complaint logs, and internal emails. The doctor’s malpractice insurance may not cover intentional sexual misconduct, so a claim against a responsible hospital or medical practice can make the difference between winning a judgment and actually collecting compensation.
Our doctor sexual abuse lawyers represent victims of sexual assault by medical professionals. We pursue claims against doctors and, where the evidence supports it, the hospitals and practices that failed to protect patients. Call us for a free consultation at 800-553-8082 or reach out to us online.
- Sexual Abuse Lawsuits
- Settlement Amounts in Sex Abuse Lawsuits
- New York Child Sexual Abuse Filing Deadlines
Recent Doctor Sexual Abuse Settlements and Lawsuits
November 7, 2026: Families Sue Ohio Hospitals Over Pediatric Doctor’s Alleged Sexual Exploitation of Children
Families of 13 children filed a federal civil lawsuit on November 4 against former pediatric urologist Dr. Bryan Shanley Sack, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, and Mercy Health St. Vincent Medical Center. Sack previously served as chief of pediatric urology at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Toledo. He has also been indicted on federal charges of receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material. He has pleaded not guilty.
The lawsuit alleges that Sack took intimate photographs of young patients during medical examinations and procedures and stored images of children in his personal Dropbox account alongside child sexual abuse material. Some of the children were infants and toddlers. 13 Action News reported that the families accuse the hospital defendants of negligent hiring, supervision, credentialing, and retention, among other claims.
Nationwide Children’s has said law enforcement told it the criminal charges were unrelated to Sack’s clinical activities. The families allege that the hospitals failed to protect children from unauthorized photography and the removal of sensitive medical images. The civil allegations have not been decided in court.
Earlier cases show disturbing parallels. In Delaware, pediatrician Earl Bradley sexually abused and videotaped young patients, including infants. A settlement worth approximately $123 million resolved claims against Beebe Medical Center and other defendants accused of failing to protect those children. The allegations against Beebe included failures to investigate reports about Bradley and properly supervise him.
In Baltimore, Johns Hopkins agreed to a $190 million settlement in 2014 over gynecologist Nikita Levy’s secret photographs and recordings of patients during intimate examinations. Levy used a camera disguised as a pen to record patients without their knowledge.
October 14, 2026: More Women Sue New Jersey OB-GYN as Sexual Abuse Claims Continue to Grow
Thirteen additional women have filed a civil sexual abuse lawsuit against former New Jersey OB-GYN Dr. Bruce Pierce, bringing the number of women pursuing claims against him to at least 45. The women allege that Pierce sexually assaulted patients during routine gynecological examinations over many years. His medical license was suspended in 2024 after state regulators found credible evidence of sexual exploitation involving patients.
The new lawsuit also names Delaware Valley OB-GYN and Infertility Group and affiliated healthcare organizations, alleging that they failed to respond to earlier complaints. The New Jersey Monitor reports that allegations involving Pierce date back to at least 2003 and that patients had raised concerns about his conduct years before the latest lawsuits.
The question now is how many opportunities the medical practice had to stop him. When dozens of women describe similar misconduct during examinations, the focus inevitably shifts to the institution. Who received the complaints? What did they investigate? And why was the doctor allowed to continue seeing patients? Those questions will be central to the civil cases against the healthcare organizations that employed and supervised Pierce.
More Doctor Sexual Assault Settlements, Lawsuits, and News 👈
September 24, 2026: Adventist Health Agrees to $18.5 Million Settlement in Patient Sexual Abuse Lawsuits
Adventist Health Sonora in California has agreed to pay $18.5 million to settle sexual abuse claims brought by seven women against former physical therapist Jason Elias. The women alleged that Elias sexually assaulted them during treatment sessions, sometimes after directing them to undress or isolating them in private treatment rooms. The settlement works out to approximately $2.64 million per plaintiff.
The lawsuits alleged that hospital employees received warnings about Elias over a period of years but failed to take meaningful action. According to reporting on the settlement, the women suffered lasting psychological injuries, including anxiety, depression, and fear of receiving medical treatment. Adventist Health maintains that it suspended Elias after receiving a formal complaint, investigated the allegations, and terminated his employment.
This is a significant settlement, particularly because the individual recoveries are substantial. The case also illustrates why complaints to other medical employees matter so much. Patients are understandably reluctant to question a healthcare provider during treatment, particularly when they are already injured or in pain. When they finally tell another employee what happened, that information needs to go somewhere. The plaintiffs alleged that too many warnings about Elias went nowhere.
August 19, 2026: Twenty-Seven Former Patients Sue New Jersey Doctor Over Sexual Abuse and Prescription Drug Coercion
Twenty-seven former patients have filed a civil lawsuit against New Jersey physician Dr. Ritesh Kalra, accusing him of years of sexual abuse during medical appointments. The lawsuit alleges that Kalra used his authority as a physician to exploit patients who depended on him for medical treatment and prescription medications. Some patients claim he reduced their medication doses after they resisted his sexual advances.
The lawsuit was filed in Bergen County Superior Court on August 17. Kalra also faces a separate federal criminal prosecution involving allegations that he exchanged opioid prescriptions for sexual favors. Hudson County View reported that the civil claims describe a longstanding pattern of misconduct involving patients who were particularly vulnerable because of their medical needs.
The allegations involving prescription medications are especially disturbing. A doctor who controls a patient’s pain medication has extraordinary leverage over that person’s daily life. When that authority is used to demand sexual contact, patients may feel they have no realistic way to refuse without losing treatment they depend on. The civil lawsuits will examine both the alleged assaults and the doctor’s use of his medical practice to maintain that control.
August 11, 2026: Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Faces Growing Sexual Abuse Lawsuits Against Former Doctor
A civil lawsuit involving 79 plaintiffs has been filed against Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and former physician Dr. Howard Saal. The plaintiffs include former pediatric patients and parents who allege that Saal sexually abused children under the guise of medical examinations. Saal worked at Cincinnati Children’s for more than three decades as a specialist in genetics and birth defects.
The lawsuit alleges that the hospital failed to protect children from medically unnecessary examinations and inappropriate conduct. Saal separately faces federal criminal charges involving child sexual abuse material. Reporting on the August lawsuit describes allegations involving children who were brought to the hospital by parents seeking specialized medical care.
These lawsuits raise the same institutional questions we saw in the Robert Hadden litigation. Parents bring their children to highly respected medical institutions because they believe those institutions have systems in place to protect patients. The doctor’s reputation and specialized expertise can make it even harder for families to recognize inappropriate conduct. The issue for the hospital is what safeguards existed, whether complaints were investigated, and whether those safeguards were actually enforced.
July 27, 2026: Weill Cornell Acknowledges Failures That Allowed Dr. Darius Paduch to Abuse Patients
Weill Cornell Medicine has reached an agreement with federal prosecutors concerning its failure to detect and prevent sexual abuse by former urologist Dr. Darius Paduch. Paduch was convicted in 2024 of sexually abusing patients, including minors, while working at major New York medical institutions. Numerous former patients have also pursued civil sexual abuse claims against Paduch and the institutions where he practiced.
Under the July 27 agreement announced by federal prosecutors, Weill Cornell acknowledged that its policies were inadequate to detect, prevent, and respond to the abuse. The institution agreed to strengthen chaperone requirements, improve complaint investigations, submit to continuing oversight, and invest $30 million in a new patient safety institute. Weill Cornell has also acknowledged reaching substantial civil settlements with former patients.
What makes this development important is the institution’s acknowledgment that its safeguards failed. For years, Paduch was a respected specialist treating patients who often needed intimate medical examinations. The allegations involved precisely the kind of conduct that proper chaperone requirements and serious complaint investigations are supposed to prevent. These institutional failures are central to understanding why so many patients were able to bring civil claims against the medical organizations, not just the doctor who abused them.
June 16, 2026: Columbia Reports More Than $1 Billion in Doctor Sexual Abuse Settlements
Columbia University has confirmed that it has entered into settlements totaling more than $1 billion with over 1,000 former patients of OB-GYN Robert Hadden. The total includes the major settlements previously reached with women who alleged that Hadden sexually abused them during medical examinations while Columbia and NewYork-Presbyterian failed to stop him.
Columbia also established a separate $100 million settlement fund for certain former Hadden patients who had not previously settled claims or retained lawyers to pursue litigation. That fund closed to new applications on June 15, 2026. Columbia’s June 16 update confirms the overall settlement history and the status of the fund.
More than $1 billion in settlements is an extraordinary amount of money for one doctor’s misconduct. But the number also reflects the scale of the institutional failure alleged by his patients. Hadden was able to abuse women over many years in a healthcare system where patients had every reason to expect that complaints would be taken seriously. The financial consequences for Columbia have been enormous, and the harm to the women involved cannot be measured by the settlement total alone.
May 15, 2026: Seven Former Foster Children Sue California Pediatrician and County Over Alleged Sexual Abuse
Seven former foster children have filed a civil lawsuit against pediatrician Dr. Patrick Clyne and Santa Clara County, California, alleging that Clyne sexually abused them during medical examinations between 2001 and 2011. Clyne previously served as a physician treating foster children and was also a foster parent. The lawsuit alleges that county child welfare officials received warnings about his conduct years earlier but allowed him to continue examining vulnerable children.
According to The Imprint, the civil complaint describes earlier allegations dating back to the 1990s and accuses county officials of failing to investigate reports that should have prompted action. The new cases follow a $5.5 million settlement reached with another former foster youth who alleged abuse by Clyne.
There is something particularly disturbing about a case involving children in foster care. These children were already dependent on the state for their safety, and the doctor they were sent to see allegedly exploited that dependence. The county’s knowledge is the critical issue. If officials had credible warnings and continued sending children to Clyne, this becomes a much larger institutional failure than the misconduct of one physician.
April 1, 2026: Judge Dismisses Indiana University Doctor Sexual Abuse Lawsuit on Statute of Limitations Grounds
A federal judge has dismissed the sexual abuse lawsuit brought by five former Indiana University basketball players who alleged that longtime team physician Dr. Bradford Bomba Sr. subjected them to unnecessary and sexually abusive rectal examinations. The former players claimed that IU and former athletic trainer Tim Garl failed to protect them from the abuse.
Judge Tanya Walton Pratt dismissed the lawsuit because the claims were filed after the applicable statute of limitations had expired. The plaintiffs argued that they did not fully recognize the examinations as sexual abuse until 2024, but the court rejected that argument. Indiana Public Media reported the decision on April 1. Bomba died in 2025.
This is a disappointing outcome for the former players. The court did not decide whether Bomba sexually abused them or whether university officials failed to intervene. The claims were dismissed before those questions could be decided on their merits. It is another example of how statutes of limitations can prevent survivors from getting their day in court, particularly when the alleged abuse occurred decades earlier and involved a trusted medical professional.
May 6, 2025: Columbia University Approves $750 Million Settlement in OB-GYN Sex Abuse Case
A New York state court has approved a $750 million settlement for 576 women who were sexually abused by former Columbia University and NewYork-Presbyterian OB-GYN Robert Hadden. The survivors alleged that both institutions enabled Hadden’s abuse for years, despite early warnings and internal knowledge. A key piece of evidence included a 1995 letter from Columbia’s former OB-GYN chair acknowledging prior misconduct, contradicting Columbia’s public claims of ignorance.
The settlement marks one of the largest average per plaintiff doctor sex abuse resolutions in U.S. history, averaging $1.3 million per survivor. Hadden is currently serving a 20-year federal prison sentence following a 2023 conviction for inducing victims to travel interstate for unlawful sexual activity. Columbia has issued public apologies and, to its credit, committed to reforms, including a new survivor compensation fund, an external investigation, and updated patient safety protocols.
April 1, 2025: Michigan Youth Hockey Doctor Pleads No Contest in Teen Sexual Abuse Case
Dr. Zvi Levran, a 68-year-old former physician from Farmington Hills, Michigan, has pleaded no contest to over two dozen sex crime charges involving teenage boys he met while working with youth hockey teams in Michigan and Minnesota. Levran, arrested in 2022, entered his plea on March 18, 2025, to charges including 11 counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct, 10 counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct, three counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct, and four counts of child sexually abusive activity.
January 20, 2025: Former Doctor Sentenced to 37 Years for Child Sexual Assault
Dr. Edgar Archbold, a 73-year-old former doctor in Yorkville, was sentenced to 37 years in prison after pleading guilty to seven counts of criminal sexual assault of a minor. The abuse occurred over nine months at his business and home, and the victim came forward after being questioned by their mother. Law enforcement gathered critical evidence, including a recorded phone conversation where Archbold admitted to the acts. Given his age, Archbold will spend the rest of his life in prison, as he must serve at least 85% of his sentence.
January 14, 2025: Third Former IU Player Files Lawsuit Against Dr. Bomba
Former Indiana University sports team doctor, Bradford Bomba Sr., was already facing a civil lawsuit by two former IU basketball players claiming that he sexually abused them during medical exams. Now a third former IU basketball player has filed a lawsuit against Dr. Bomba and IU, making very similar allegations of abuse during a medical examination. The new lawsuit alleges that the former player was subjected to two completely unnecessary prostate exams by Dr. Bomba.
January 3, 2025: Michigan Doctor Charged With Sexual Abuse of Patients
A Michigan physician facing at least 29 criminal charges for sex crimes has agreed to relinquish his license to practice medicine in Iowa. Dr. Zvi Levran, a urologist based in Farmington Hills, Michigan, has been charged by the Iowa Board of Medicine after voluntarily agreeing to restrictions on his medical practice in Michigan. The board noted that Levran’s medical license in Michigan was suspended in January 2023, and he later voluntarily surrendered his medical license in Ohio.
Dr. Levran is accused of sexually abusing young male patients during medical examinations. Dr. Levran had been a team doctor for youth hockey teams for many years, and most of his alleged victims were young teenage boys on these teams. In addition to sexual abuse during exams, Dr. Levran is being accused of taking videos of his sexual assaults and distributing them online. This will almost certainly lead to civil lawsuits against Dr. Levran and his medical practice.
December 16, 2024: Motion to Compel Testimony From Dr. Bradford Bomba
Former Indiana University basketball team doctor, Bradford Bomba Sr., had his deposition taken earlier this year in a civil lawsuit by two former student-athletes who claim Dr. Bomba sexually abused them. During that deposition, Dr. Bomba refused to answer 45 of the questions that were asked and invoked his 5th Amendment right against self-incrimination. Now the plaintiffs’ lawyers have filed a motion asking a judge to compel Dr. Bomba to answer.
November 2, 2024: Modesto OB/GYN Charged With Misconduct
Dr. Robert Altman, a prominent OB-GYN in Modesto, California, for many years, has been charged by the state medical board with sexual misconduct during patient exams. Patients have accused Dr. Altman of being unnecessarily touchy-feely during examinations. This could potentially lead to sexual abuse lawsuits against Dr. Altman.
October 1, 2024: Massachusetts Doctor Faces Lawsuits Alleging Sexual Assault
Dr. Richard Kauff, a former pediatrician in Norwell, Massachusetts, has been named in a civil lawsuit brought by a former female patient who claims that Dr. Kauff sexually assaulted her during a medical examination when she was a teenager. Dr. Kauff’s former medical practice, South Shore Medical Center, was also named as a defendant in the lawsuit. More civil lawsuits by other former patients are expected to be filed.
August 20, 2024: Victims of Montana Doctor Tyler Hurst Go Public
A growing number of women have now come forward with allegations that they were sexually assaulted by Dr. Tyler Hurst while under his care at Missoula Community Medical Center in Montana. Dr. Hurst is already facing criminal charges and a growing number of his victims are filing civil lawsuits. Now some of those victims are telling their story publicly. A pair of women were featured in a local news report in which they gave details of how they were sexually assaulted and raped by Dr. Hurst while under his care.
June 12, 2024: Montana Doctor Charged With Several Counts of Sexual Assault
An emergency medical doctor at a hospital in Missoula, Montana, has been criminally charged with several counts of sexual assault for allegedly sexually abusing some of his female patients. Several female patients came forward and reported that Dr. Tyler Hurst touched them in an inappropriate and sexual manner while treating them at the hospital. Dr. Hurst performed unnecessary vaginal and breast exams of female patients without gloves and often let the patients see that he was aroused. Civil lawsuits are expected to follow.
June 5, 2024: Former Arizona Physician Arrested on Charges of Sexual Abuse
A former doctor from southwestern Arizona, Edsel Sandoval, has been arrested on charges of sexually abusing over ten of his former patients.
The investigation began last summer after initial allegations surfaced from a patient, leading to further accusations by two more victims. Following his arrest on February 28, eight additional former patients have come forward with allegations against Sandoval. He has since been indicted on 13 counts of sexually related offenses.
May 20, 2024: Over 200 Former Patients of Dr. Derrick Todd File Civil Lawsuit
A group of over 200 former patients has filed a civil lawsuit claiming that they were sexually abused during medical exams by Dr. Derrick Todd, a rheumatologist in the Boston area. The lawsuit alleges that Dr. Todd sexually abused his patients by performing medically unnecessary vaginal, breast, and rectal examinations on them during medical exams for unrelated conditions. The allegations of abuse date back to 2010, and the hospital and medical practice where Dr. Todd practiced have also been named as defendants.
May 2, 2024: Growing Number Of Former Patients Filing Lawsuits Against Orange County Doctor
A growing number of former patients are filing sexual abuse lawsuits against Dr. William Moore Thompson IV in Orange County, California. Dr. Thompson was a prominent infectious disease specialist in Newport Beach who focused on treating members of the LGBTQ community. Dr. Thompson was criminally indicted earlier this year on several charges of sexual assault involving patients. The allegations accuse Dr. Thompson of performing unnecessary rectal examinations of male patients.
April 15, 2024: Oklahoma Board of Chiropractic Examiners Orders Mark Kimble to Surrender License
The Oklahoma Board of Chiropractic Examiners (OBCE) ordered Mark Kimble, the only chiropractor at the Back Stop, to surrender his license in April 2024 following multiple allegations of sexual impropriety. Seven alleged victims have come forward with accusations against him. The first public claim involved accusations of sexual assault and physical injury during treatment. The OBCE determined that Kimble had violated their Code of Ethics, which includes prohibitions on sexual relationships with patients, based on his admission of “consensual” relationships with two patients.
Despite being suspended and subsequently placed on probation with specific conditions, such as requiring the presence of a female chaperone during sessions with female patients, further allegations emerged about inappropriate behavior when the chaperone was absent. The order allowed him to reapply in less than three years. A former patient has also initiated a lawsuit against him on several grounds, including assault and negligence. Despite these civil actions, the local District Attorney’s Office has opted not to pursue criminal charges for reasons that are not entirely clear.
April 11, 2024: Six Copperman Abuse Cases Result in $157 Million in Damages Awards
Stuart Copperman, a former pediatrician from Long Island, was ordered to pay $157 million in damages in six cases involving allegations of serial sexual abuse of children. Liability was established after Copperman failed to respond to the lawsuits. These incidents, which reportedly occurred during supposed medical examinations, took place over several decades. Over 100 survivors filed claims against this awful doctor under the Child Victims Act.
From April 1 to April 8, a special referee responsible for these cases assigned damages ranging from $10 million to $27 million. The referee also awarded punitive damages against the doctor.
What is Sexual Abuse By a Physician?
The threshold question is what gives rise to a sexual assault lawsuit against a doctor? Given that examinations often involve the exposure of intimate body parts and physical contact, identifying inappropriate behavior can be a challenge and there are some cases where you “know” the doctor’s intent but it is difficult to prove.
But in most doctor sex abuse lawsuits, the offense is obvious. There is no question that sexual assault by a medical professional occurs when a doctor violates your privacy by engaging in unwarranted sexual touching. Any type of sexual touching that does not have a valid medical purpose and is done for the purpose of sexual gratification is sexual abuse that may entitle the victim to compensation.
Below are some examples of sexual assault and abuse by doctors:
- Touching intimate areas without using gloves.
- Conducting procedures that feel unnecessary, such as touching sensitive areas or causing undue pain.
- Refusing your request to have a nurse or chaperone present during an examination.
- Pressuring you to undress when it is unnecessary, such as insisting on removing clothing for a consultation about a non-related issue like a sprained ankle.
- Displaying sexually suggestive expressions or gestures before, during, and after examinations.
- Performing unnecessary vaginal or rectal examinations that involve attempts to sexually stimulate
- Pressuring you into medically unnecessary physical examinations, such as insisting on a gynecological exam when the visit is for a different purpose, like a flu shot.
- Engaging in voyeurism by installing video cameras in examination rooms and bathrooms.
- Making seductive or sexual remarks before, during, and after examinations.
- Coercing or forcing you into providing sexual favors in exchange for drugs such as hydromorphone and OxyContin.
- Taking photos of a patient without consent or without any medical purpose
Can You Sue a Doctor for Sexual Assault?
Yes. A patient may bring a civil sexual assault or battery lawsuit against a doctor even if no criminal charges were filed. The applicable deadline and the parties who can be sued depend on state law and the facts. Sexual assault or abuse by a doctor or medical professional may also be a crime. Doctors who commit sexual assault are frequently criminally prosecuted and can have their medical license revoked. The problem with pursuing criminal charges is that you, as the victim, have no real control over the process. The authorities may or may not take you seriously, and there is no guarantee that they will actually bring charges.
A patient can pursue a civil claim for sexual abuse by a doctor even without reporting the incident to the police. The lawsuit must still satisfy the applicable filing deadline and other legal requirements.
How Long Do You Have to File a Doctor Sexual Abuse Lawsuit?
It depends on the state, the patient’s age when the abuse occurred, and the circumstances of the claim. Some states have extended filing deadlines or temporarily reopened claims involving childhood sexual abuse. Other claims may be subject to much shorter deadlines. The fact that a doctor was criminally charged does not necessarily stop the clock on a civil lawsuit.
Claims against public hospitals, state universities, or government-operated medical facilities can involve separate notice requirements. Missing one of those deadlines can prevent a lawsuit even when there is evidence of abuse. The April 2026 Indiana University case discussed above is an example of a court dismissing civil claims on limitations grounds without deciding whether the alleged abuse occurred.
See our discussions of California sexual abuse lawsuits and New York childhood sexual abuse filing deadlines. A lawyer must evaluate the deadline under the law applicable to the particular case.
Victims Can Get Financial Compensation for Doctor Sex Abuse
Victims who bring a successful civil lawsuit against a doctor for sexual assault can get financial compensation in the form of money damages. In a doctor sex abuse lawsuit, victims may recover money for three major categories of compensatory damages:
- Mental Pain & Suffering: Being sexually assaulted by a physician is an emotionally harmful event. Victims can feel acute mental pain and distress as a result of the incident. It can often take years for victims of sexual abuse to fully heal and some never do. When victims bring a doctor sex abuse lawsuit, they are entitled to get money damages not just for past mental pain and suffering, but also for future pain and suffering caused by the abuse.
- Lost Income / Wages: The damaging impact of doctor sexual abuse can often result in lost wages or lost income as the victim may be unable to go to work or earn a living as before. Plaintiffs in sex assault cases can get compensation for past and future lost wages.
- Medical Expenses: Therapy and other forms of mental healthcare are often necessary for victims of physician sexual abuse. If the victim brings a lawsuit, they can get money damages for the cost (past and future) of this treatment.
- Punitive Damages: In some states, courts or juries may also award punitive damages for especially egregious misconduct, including certain intentional abuse or cover-up claims. These damages are separate from compensation for the survivor’s losses. Their availability, the proof required, and any limits depend on state law and the defendant involved.
Who Can File a Doctor Sex Assault Lawsuit?
Anyone who has been the victim of sexual abuse by a medical provider can file a civil lawsuit. Spouses of the victim can also bring their own claims for loss of consortium, which is basically damage to the marital relationship. If the victim of the sexual abuse is a child or an elderly person, their parents or family members can bring the case on their behalf.
How to Hold Hospitals and Third Parties Liable for Doctor Sex Abuse
One of the biggest challenges in doctor and hospital sexual abuse lawsuits is that the physician’s malpractice insurance often will not cover the harm. Insurance companies argue that sexual assault is intentional, not a medical error, and therefore not covered. That leaves victims with few options if the doctor has no meaningful assets. And most of the time, that is exactly the case. So where does a survivor turn for justice and compensation? The answer is often the hospital, medical group, or health system that allowed the abuse to happen.
In hospital sex abuse lawsuits, the goal is to hold the employer accountable. That includes hospitals, clinics, and healthcare corporations that ignored complaints, failed to investigate red flags, or even actively covered up the misconduct. These institutions can be legally responsible when they knew or should have known a physician posed a danger to patients. Many survivors find out only years later that their abuser had a long history of similar behavior, often documented in complaint files that went nowhere. These cases are not just about one bad doctor. They are about systemic failure.
The key is to prove that failure. That usually means showing a pattern. Maybe a nurse reported something years ago. Maybe several patients said something felt off. Maybe there were written warnings in the doctor’s personnel file. If the hospital did nothing, that is negligence. And that is where a strong hospital sexual abuse case can be built.
A doctor or hospital sex abuse lawsuit is primarily about money. That is how the civil justice system works. Our doctor sexual abuse attorneys do not run from this. But, for many victims, there is a lot more at stake. It is about holding institutions accountable for what they allowed. A skilled attorney knows how to uncover the facts and force the hospital to answer for its role. These lawsuits can lead to meaningful settlements or verdicts, and they often push hospitals to make long-overdue changes to protect future patients.
So ask yourself the right questions. Did the hospital ignore warning signs? Did they put reputation ahead of patient safety? Did they protect the doctor instead of the people they were supposed to serve? That is where the truth is. That is where justice starts. And that is where real hospital sex abuse accountability begins.
Does Malpractice Insurance Cover Doctor Sexual Abuse?
Unfortunately, medical malpractice insurance for doctors usually does not provide coverage for doctor-patient sexual abuse. Malpractice insurance for healthcare professionals, like doctors, generally covers negligent medical treatment, not a doctor’s intentional sexual assault. Many policies exclude intentional acts by the doctor or healthcare provider. Sexual abuse of a patient is, by definition, an intentional act. That is why malpractice insurance coverage usually does not apply.
There are ways around this problem, however, if you have a skilled and experienced lawyer. The best way to avoid this roadblock is by suing a hospital, medical practice, or other institution that employed the doctor. For example, if the doctor was an employee of a hospital or large healthcare “system” (which most doctors are these days) you can bring your sex abuse lawsuit against the hospital based on negligent hiring or negligent supervision.
When evaluating the viability of a doctor sexual assault lawsuit, the key factor is identifying a defendant with the financial means to pay a settlement or judgment. Our firm once secured a multi-million-dollar verdict against a doctor in a similar case, but the victim ended up with nothing. Identifying institutions, such as employers or other parties who may have enabled the abuse and have insurance, is crucial to securing meaningful settlement compensation for victims.
Examples of Doctor Sexual Abuse
There have been a number of well-publicized cases involving doctors accused of sexually abusing patients during medical examinations. Some resulted in criminal convictions. Others have produced civil lawsuits against doctors, hospitals, medical practices, or government institutions accused of failing to protect patients.
Many of these cases involve OB-GYNs, but the allegations extend to urologists, psychiatrists, sports medicine physicians, military doctors, and other medical professionals. Below are some of the cases our lawyers have covered.
Dr. Scott Lee
Prison Gynecologist | California
Women incarcerated at the California Institution for Women in Chino allege that Dr. Scott Lee subjected them to medically unnecessary pelvic examinations, inappropriate sexual conduct, and retaliation after complaints. The lawsuits also accuse prison officials of failing to protect patients despite warnings about his conduct.
Maj. Blaine McGraw
Army OB-GYN | Texas and Hawaii
Former patients have reported sexual misconduct involving Army OB-GYN Maj. Blaine McGraw, who practiced at Fort Hood in Texas and Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii. Women allege that he secretly recorded intimate examinations, engaged in inappropriate touching, and performed unnecessary procedures. The allegations raise questions about the military’s oversight of its medical providers.
Dr. Barry Brock
OB-GYN | California
Dr. Barry Brock was a very well-known and respected OB-GYN based in Los Angeles for nearly 40 years. A growing number of Dr. Brock’s former patients are now coming forward and asserting allegations that he sexually abused them during examinations. Many of these patients are filing lawsuits against Dr. Brock and healthcare institutions where he practiced.
Dr. Michael Stockin
Army Pain Management Physician | Washington
Dr. Michael Stockin was a pain management doctor for the U.S. Army at Joint Base Lewis-McChord near Tacoma. He pleaded guilty to sexually abusing male patients during medical examinations and was sentenced to 164 months in military prison in January 2025. Former patients are pursuing claims against the Army alleging failures to investigate and protect patients.
Dr. Darius Paduch
Urologist | New York
Dr. Darius Paduch was a urologist in New York City and Long Island who specialized in male infertility. Dr. Paduch was criminally convicted and sentenced to life in prison for sexually abusing patients under the guise of medical treatment. Former patients have also filed civil lawsuits against Paduch and the healthcare institutions where he worked.
Settlement Value of Doctor Sexual Abuse Lawsuits
The settlement value of sexual abuse lawsuits against doctors depends on many factors. One of the most significant factors is whether there is a third-party employer, such as a hospital or healthcare system, that can be held liable. Intentional acts such as sexual abuse are typically not covered by a doctor’s malpractice insurance. That means that financial success in a doctor sex abuse case is very often dependent on having a strong third-party liability claim against the hospital or other institution. Below are examples of verdicts and settlements involving sexual abuse by physicians.
- 2025, New York: $1.6 Billion in Default Judgments. A former pediatrician, Stuart Copperman, was found liable for sexually abusing more than 100 female patients during medical examinations over several decades in Long Island. The abuse spanned from the 1960s through the 1990s and resulted in $1.6 billion in judgments after Copperman failed to respond to the lawsuits and damages were assessed. Individual awards ranged from $500,000 to $32 million. Copperman lost his medical license in 2000 but was never criminally prosecuted. This is more of a moral victory. Collecting the full damages, perhaps any damages, will be nearly impossible.
- 2025, New York: $750 Million Settlement. Columbia University and NewYork-Presbyterian agreed to a court-approved settlement resolving claims by 576 former patients of OB-GYN Robert Hadden. The average was approximately $1.3 million per survivor, although individual recoveries differ. The lawsuits alleged that Hadden sexually abused women during examinations and that the institutions failed to stop him despite complaints. This agreement was one of several Hadden resolutions, not an additional payment to everyone who had already settled.
- 2024, Illinois: $453 Million in Reported Legal Settlement Costs. Endeavor Health reported $453 million in legal settlement costs in 2024 related to sexual abuse claims against a former physician. The financial filing did not identify the physician or say how many cases the amount covered. Separate lawsuits against former OB-GYN Dr. Fabio Ortega alleged that he abused more than 300 women during medical examinations at NorthShore and Swedish Hospital. The lawsuits painted a disturbing picture of repeated misconduct throughout Ortega’s employment, with many women stating that hospital staff and leadership were aware of complaints but failed to intervene or remove him from patient care. From the plaintiffs’ allegations, it was basically an open secret. Plaintiffs in these hospital sex abuse lawsuits argued that Endeavor Health and Swedish Hospital demonstrated a clear pattern of negligence. Internal reports and patient complaints reportedly raised red flags for years, yet Ortega was allowed to continue treating women without meaningful oversight or consequences. The legal claims asserted that the hospital prioritized protecting its image over protecting its patients. This type of institutional failure is at the core of many physician sex abuse lawsuits, where the harm extends far beyond one individual and into the system that enabled the abuse.
- 2024, Michigan: $138.7 Million Settlement. The U.S. Department of Justice reached a $138.7 million settlement with 139 victims of former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar. The plaintiffs alleged that the FBI failed to properly investigate early reports of abuse, allowing Nassar to continue victimizing girls and young women. This payout comes in addition to earlier settlements totaling more than $880 million from Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics.
- 2024, New York: $157 Million in Default Judgments. A former pediatrician from Long Island was held liable in six cases that produced $157 million in damages awards for allegations of serial sexual abuse against children. The abuse reportedly took place during medical examinations and spanned several decades. More than 100 survivors filed claims against the pediatrician under the Child Victims Act, with damages for individual cases ranging from $10 million to $27 million. But collecting these damages may prove difficult, as the pediatrician, whose medical license was revoked amid similar allegations, did not participate in the litigation and reportedly lacks financial resources. These six awards are part of the larger $1.6 billion total reported above.
- 2022, Michigan: $490 Million Settlement. More than 1,000 people, including ex-college football players, leveled accusations of sexual abuse and assault against former University of Michigan sports doctor Robert Anderson. They asserted that Anderson subjected them to sexual assault and abuse during regular examinations, with the claim that the university did not adequately safeguard them from his actions. The University of Michigan has settled these lawsuits, agreeing to pay $490 million.
- 2021, New York: $71.5 Million Settlement. A group of over 70 women accused former Columbia University OB/GYN Robert Hadden of sexual assault for inappropriately touching them during examinations. Not atypically, many women claimed Hadden became more intrusive during subsequent exams. Hundreds of other women filed similar lawsuits. New York-Presbyterian Hospital and Columbia University Irving Medical Center agreed to settle for $71.5 million.
- 2021, California: $1.1 Billion Settlement. Over 700 women accused former USC gynecologist George Tyndall of sexual assault during examinations. The lawsuits alleged that USC failed to protect them from Tyndall despite having reason to know about his actions. The university agreed to settle for $1.1 billion.
- 2021, West Virginia: $23 Million Settlement. The Charleston Area Medical Center has agreed to pay $23 million to settle allegations of sexual assault during medical treatments. The claims were brought by women who reported being molested while under anesthesia during colonoscopy procedures at the West Virginia Medical Center. The assaults were committed by a former gastroenterologist, who was convicted of first-degree sexual abuse and sentenced to five years in prison.
- 2017, Ohio: $867,500 Settlement: A 46-year-old female reportedly suffered from severe depression and post-traumatic stress disorder after her treating physician, defendant Terrence McCoy, then an internal medicine physician, initiated and engaged in a consensual sexual relationship with the plaintiff while treating her for mental health issues. The plaintiff contended that the defendant committed medical malpractice in failing to adhere to the minimal standards of care of similar practitioners under the same or similar circumstances.
- 2014, Maryland: $190 Million Johns Hopkins Settlement. Johns Hopkins Health System agreed to pay $190 million to resolve claims by thousands of former patients of gynecologist Nikita Levy, who secretly recorded women during pelvic examinations using a small camera. The claims focused on the physician’s misconduct and the health system’s responsibility for protecting patients. A Baltimore judge approved the settlement in September 2014.
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If a doctor or healthcare professional sexually abused you, our lawyers can review your options for a civil claim. Contact us today online or call 800-553-8082 to learn more about how we may be able to help you.