Doctor Sexual Abuse Lawyer in New York

You don’t have to carry this alone

If you were harmed by sexual abuse in New York, you deserve to be heard and protected. Our legal team handles these cases with care, discretion, and strength.

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Sexual abuse by a doctor violates the most basic trust between patient and medical professional. Whether it happened during an exam, under the guise of treatment, or while you were sedated or vulnerable, you deserve justice.

At Megan Thomas Law, we represent patients who have been sexually abused by doctors, nurses, therapists, and other medical professionals across New York. We understand the shame, confusion, and trauma that come with being violated by someone you trusted with your health. And we know how to hold both the abuser and the medical facility accountable.

What Constitutes Sexual Abuse by Medical Professionals?

Sexual abuse by a doctor or other medical professional involves any sexual contact, conduct, or exploitation that occurs under the pretense of medical care or treatment.

Examples include:

• Unnecessary intimate examinations — touching breasts, genitals, or other areas without medical justification.
• Examinations without a chaperone — conducting intimate exams alone when hospital policy requires a witness.
• Inappropriate touching during procedures — groping, rubbing, or fondling during legitimate medical care.
• Sexual contact while sedated — abuse occurring while you’re unconscious, under anesthesia, or medicated.
• Exploitation during therapy — psychiatrists, psychologists, or counselors engaging in sexual relationships with patients.
• Fraudulent treatment claims — presenting sexual contact as legitimate medical treatment.
• Exposure or masturbation — showing genitals or engaging in sexual acts in front of patients.
• Sexual comments during care — making lewd remarks about your body, appearance, or sexual history.

Who Can Be Held Accountable?

When a medical professional sexually abuses a patient, multiple parties may be liable:

1. The abuser — the doctor, nurse, therapist, or other medical professional who committed the abuse.
2. The medical facility — hospitals, clinics, private practices, or medical groups that employed the abuser.
3. Supervisors and administrators — those who knew or should have known about complaints or warning signs.
4. Medical boards and licensing authorities — entities that failed to investigate prior complaints.

Hospitals and medical practices have a legal duty to protect patients. This includes proper credentialing, background checks, supervision, and responding to complaints.

Common Medical Settings Where Abuse Occurs

Sexual abuse by medical professionals happens across all healthcare settings:

• Hospitals — major medical centers throughout New York, including New York City, Long Island, Westchester, and upstate.
• Private medical practices — solo practitioners or small group practices.
• Outpatient clinics — urgent care centers, specialty clinics, and surgical centers.
• Mental health facilities — psychiatric hospitals, counseling centers, and therapy offices.
• Nursing homes and rehabilitation centers — long-term care facilities where patients are particularly vulnerable.
• University health centers — campus medical facilities and teaching hospitals.
• Home health care — in-home nursing and personal care services.

No medical setting is immune to sexual abuse. Abusers often target vulnerable patients who may struggle to report or be believed.

Types of Medical Professionals Who Commit Abuse

Sexual abuse can be committed by any medical professional with access to patients:

• Physicians — doctors across all specialties, including OB/GYNs, primary care, surgeons, and psychiatrists.
• Nurses — registered nurses, nurse practitioners, and nursing assistants.
• Mental health professionals — psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists, and counselors.
• Physical therapists — those providing hands-on treatment and rehabilitation.
• Radiologists and technicians — professionals conducting imaging and diagnostic tests.
• Anesthesiologists — those with access to sedated or unconscious patients.
• Dentists and dental hygienists — oral health professionals.
• Chiropractors and massage therapists — professionals providing physical manipulation.

The common thread is access to vulnerable patients and the authority that comes with medical credentials.

Your Rights as a Patient in New York

New York law recognizes that patients deserve protection from sexual exploitation:

Zero tolerance — sexual contact between medical professionals and patients is never acceptable, even if the patient didn’t physically resist.

Employer liability — hospitals and medical practices can be held responsible for their employees’ conduct.

Criminal accountability — sexual abuse by medical professionals may constitute criminal assault or sexual abuse.

Medical board action — abusers can lose their licenses through the New York State Office of Professional Medical Conduct.

Civil remedies — you can pursue compensation through a civil lawsuit regardless of criminal outcomes.

Why Sexual Abuse by Doctors Often Goes Unreported

Many patients struggle to report abuse by medical professionals because:

• They question what happened — abusers disguise assault as legitimate medical care, leaving victims confused.
• They fear not being believed — doctors hold positions of authority and credibility.
• They feel ashamed — victims often blame themselves, especially when the abuse occurred during intimate exams.
• They worry about their medical care — patients fear losing access to necessary treatment.
• They didn’t realize it was abuse — some victims don’t recognize inappropriate conduct until much later.
• They were sedated or unconscious — patients may have limited memory of what occurred.

These barriers are exactly why predatory medical professionals get away with abuse for years. You are not alone, and your experience matters.

What to Do If You Were Sexually Abused by a Medical Professional

Step 1: Prioritize Your Safety and Health

Get to a safe location. If you need immediate medical attention for injuries, go to a different medical facility. Do not return to the abuser for care.

Step 2: Preserve Evidence

Do not shower or change clothes if the abuse just occurred — physical evidence may be present.

Keep all medical records — request copies of your patient file, appointment records, and billing statements immediately.

Document everything — write down what happened, including dates, times, and specific details.

Save communications — keep texts, emails, or voicemails from the medical professional.

Note witnesses — identify anyone who may have seen you before or after appointments.

Step 3: Report to Authorities

File a police report — documentation can bolster your case and help to hold the perpetrator accountable.

Step 4: Contact a Patient Rights Attorney

Before speaking with hospital investigators or signing any documents, talk to an experienced sexual abuse attorney. Medical facilities often prioritize protecting their reputation over patient safety. We will protect your rights and make sure you are not pressured into silence.

What You May Be Entitled To

Survivors of sexual abuse by medical professionals may recover:

Economic damages — medical expenses for treatment related to the abuse, therapy costs, and lost wages.

Emotional distress damages — compensation for trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression, and loss of trust.

Punitive damages — additional compensation to punish egregious conduct and deter future abuse.

Attorney’s fees and costs — reimbursement for legal expenses.

Injunctive relief — court orders requiring policy changes, additional supervision, or other safety measures.

Patterns of Abuse in Medical Settings

Sexual abuse by medical professionals often follows recognizable patterns:

Multiple victims — abusers typically assault numerous patients over years or decades.

Targeting vulnerable patients — focusing on those who are sedated, mentally ill, elderly, at a vulnerable place in their lives, or have limited English proficiency.

Escalating behavior — starting with inappropriate comments and progressing to physical assault.

Prior complaints ignored — hospitals and medical boards often receive multiple reports before taking action.

Enabling environment — lack of chaperones, inadequate supervision, and cultures that protect doctors over patients.

If you were abused, there are likely other victims. Coming forward helps protect future patients.

Resources for Survivors in New York

New York State Office of Professional Medical Conduct

Address: 150 Broadway, Suite 355, Riverview Center, Albany, NY 12204-2719

Phone: (800) 663-6114

Website: https://www.health.ny.gov/professionals/doctors/conduct/

Work with a Doctor Sexual Abuse Lawyer in New York

Sexual abuse by a doctor or medical professional is a profound betrayal. You trusted someone with your health and safety, and they violated that trust in the worst possible way.

At Megan Thomas Law, we represent survivors with the respect, compassion, and aggressive advocacy they deserve. We understand medical abuse cases, we know how to investigate them, and we’re not afraid to take on powerful medical institutions.

Contact Megan Thomas Law today to speak with a patient rights attorney who will believe you, fight for you, and demand justice.