As illustrated by the news articles below, multiple allegations are often brought forward when therapists, doctors, lawyers, or clergy are accused of sexual misconduct.
Online reader comments demonstrate deep confusion in the community: some people are quick to "blame the victim" while others rush to defend the alleged perpetrator.
Several recent news articles and editorials also suggest that disciplinary action by state licensing boards is frequently inadequate when it comes to investigation and sanction of misconduct by licensed professionals.
A doctor in Alexandria was arrested last month after allegedly sexually assaulting one of his patients, Alexandria police said today. Police said in a news release that a 32-year-old man had contacted them in August and reported that his doctor, Antonio Ramada, had "performed an act of sodomy on him" during an appointment at Ramada's office . . . See also reader comments on this story.
A Mesquite neurologist (Faiz Ahmed) prohibited from seeing female patients in the past because of accusations of inappropriate touching is facing a criminal charge after a young mother made a similar allegation . . .
Karen Shideler. "Chiropractor accused of sexual misconduct." The Wichita Eagle (April 3, 2008).
The Board of Healing Arts petition alleges that Farney inappropriately touched the genital areas of five patients who ranged in age from 11 to 50 . . .
Tim Carpenter. "Gynecologist accused of inappropriate comments, touching." The Capital-Journal (March 29, 2008).
. . . It wasn't the first time Schroll had made a suggestive remark to Eddy during a clinic visit. And, as Eddy later discovered, she was among a long line of women who were recipients of the doctor's pickup lines . . .
Steve Eddy said, after submitting the formal complaint in late 2005, he inquired every four to six months about status of the investigation . . . The Eddys were told to let it go . . . See also reader comments on this story.
Tim Carpenter. "Psychiatrist has pushed professional boundaries: Half a dozen complaints have been leveled in 5 years." The Capital-Journal (March 27, 2008).
. . . Geenens has been punished one time by the board for "unprofessional conduct" -- a seven-day suspension of his medical license for engaging in the relationship with Jacobs' wife.
Brevity of that sanction rings hollow for the man whose marriage ended in divorce . . . Jacobs said Geenens bragged that a member of the healing arts board secretly promised him the board wouldn't hand down a severe punishment.
. . . a former Geenens patient now living in Johnson County said the psychiatrist deployed a potent cocktail of drugs and persuasion on her . . . See also reader comments on this story.
A former Washington State Patrol trooper accused of improper contact with a woman he'd arrested for drunken driving has been found guilty of first-degree custodial sexual misconduct. Carlos Torres, 46, who had been with the State Patrol since 1998, faces up to a year in prison. . . See also reader comments on this story.
"Bussmann found guilty of sexual misconduct." Star News (February 26, 2008).
On Tuesday, Feb. 12 inside a Hennepin County District Court room, John Bussmann was found guilty of using his position to have sex with vulnerable female parishioners . . .
Pat Schneider. "Lawyer under fire: Three women accuse high-profile lawyer Victor Arellano of professional misconduct." The Capitol Times (December 21, 2007).
Madison, WI -- Figueroa's grievance accuses Arellano of starting a romantic and sexual relationship with her after he began representing her . . . Such a relationship would violate state rules for attorney conduct.
Two other former clients . . . have filed grievances . . . Both, like Figueroa, became romantically involved with Arellano at vulnerable points in their lives, and they say once the romance soured, Arellano used what he knew about them against them in court . . .
Carina Corral. "Santa Barbara County psychologist accused of rape pleads not guilty." KSBY 6 Action News (November 21, 2007).
A doctor trusted by the county of Santa Barbara answers to rape charges . . . Cordero's charged with eight sexual assault counts: seven felonies and one misdemeanor. His alleged victims are two of his former patients. Now, a third victim has come forward . . .
"Synagogue settles sex suit." East York-Riverdale The Mirror (October 18, 2007).
Toronto -- A Midtown Toronto synagogue has settled out of court with two women who accused a rabbi at the place of worship of sexual misconduct . . . the settlement does not include any admission of liability or fault . . .
Nate Schweber. "Doctor accused of sex abuse may face additional charges." New York Times (August 29, 2007).
A New Jersey doctor facing charges that he sexually abused 10 women in his care may have abused more patients, an official who had been briefed on the case said on Tuesday . . .
David Reynolds. "Doctor (Joseph G. McNamara) faces new accuser." The Daily-News Record (July 5, 2007).
A doctor already accused of sexually assaulting two patients has been charged with misdemeanor assault and battery involving another woman, according to court records. The arrest warrant on a misdemeanor charge filed in Rockingham County General District Court on Friday adds a third name to the list of women who have accused . . . See also reader comments on this story.
Jeff Mellott. "Doctor admits sexual contact: McNamara's license remains suspended." The Daily News Record (June 22, 2007). See reader comments on this story.
Jeff Mellott. "Patient speaks in doc's defense." The Daily News Record (February 6, 2007).
Barbara Dovel doesn't, for one minute, believe the charges police have leveled at her physician, Dr. Joseph McNamara. Police have charged McNamara, a doctor for 24 years and in the community for nearly 20 years, with a felony count of sodomy and one misdemeanor count of sexual battery on a patient . . .
Associated Press. "Priest admits in deposition to father[ing] children." Seattle Times (March 3, 2007).
Anchorage, AK -- A priest being sued for child support has admitted to fathering children, carrying on affairs and hiring prostitutes, according to a deposition filed with the court . . . Jacobson testified that he didn't recall having sex with one of the women who had his child but because of the test results, didn't doubt it happened . . . He said he believes he had sexual relations with seven women when he was a priest as various Western Alaska villages, according to the deposition . . .
Laurence Hammack. "Woman says church warned: A Covington woman says if the Catholic Church had heeded her warnings, a second woman would not have been victimized." The Roanoke Times (August 21, 2005).
The woman who made the allegation against the Rev. Edward C. Moran said the church promised her that he would never lead another parish . . . Earlier this year, Moran was leading another parish - and facing another allegation of sexual misconduct . . .
A Billings psychologist should lose her state license because of her inappropriate relationships with clients. . . Gregory L. Hanchett, a hearings examiner for the Montana Department of Labor and Industry, said Constance Reynolds violated several state administrative rules and professional standards, including one that prohibits a sexual relationship between a therapist and a client. . . "
"The Medical Board should revoke that guy's license," said Julie D'Angelo Fellmeth, a University of San Diego law professor who wrote a state-mandated assessment of the board's enforcement program and considers sex with a patient an ultimate abuse of power. "It's a crime. It's unlawful. It's unethical. Sexual misconduct is the mortal sin for any healthcare practitioner. You just don't do that." . . .
The Senate unanimously passed a resolution Friday calling on the Kansas Board of Healing Arts to dismiss top administrators at the state agency for failure to protect the public from unethical doctors . . .
Patient confidence in the medical network depends on effective oversight of doctors and other providers. The public needs to know that complaints will be investigated promptly and fairly.
Unfortunately, that has not been happening in Kansas. Recent investigations by The Topeka Capital-Journal newspaper and state legislators have documented serious problems with the state's Board of Healing Arts . . .
More than 250 doctors are licensed by the Virginia medical board despite records of serious mistakes or misconduct, a review of board actions since 1990 shows. . . . An analysis of the National Practitioner Data Bank, which tracks physicians, found at least 70 Virginia doctors who have been disciplined five or more times by state and federal authorities, hospitals or professional societies. Only 28 of them lost their licenses. . .
. . . the state's lax system of oversight favors doctors over patients. A Journal Sentinel review of five years' worth of disciplinary action found that the board is slow to look into complaints, keeps many of its investigations secret and rarely imposes serious discipline, even when patients die . . .
The Journal Sentinel's analysis found that doctors can abuse drugs and keep their licenses. Doctors can sexually assault patients and keep their licenses. Doctors can harm patients and keep their licenses . . . doctors are further protected by a veil of secrecy.
. . . Over the five-year period studied by the newspaper, the second most common punishment handed down by the licensing board was the one Frazin received in the Kresken case: a reprimand. That's the most lenient sanction and one Musser admitted is virtually meaningless . . .
Regrettably, a Journal Sentinel investigation has revealed a highly disturbing pattern of lax oversight by state medical regulators that favors doctors over patients. It's a pattern that must be reversed . . .