Los Angeles Attorneys Handling Sexual Abuse by Doctors and the Medical Profession

What legal recourse do I have as a victim of sexual abuse by Los Angeles medical professionals?

Remember, if you believe you are a victim of sexual abuse by a doctor or another medical professional, you do have the right to seek justice both through the criminal and civil courts. In a criminal case, the prosecution aims to punish the abuser, and in a civil case, it aims to provide compensation for the victim’s suffering. This compensation encompasses a variety of damages, including medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional distress and more.

Identifying and proving abuse

The first step in pursuing a civil claim for sexual abuse by a medical professional is to identify and prove that abuse occurred. This can be challenging, as medical examinations often involve intimate contact that might blur the lines between appropriate and inappropriate behavior. Our skilled personal injury attorneys work closely with you to gather evidence, such as medical records, witness statements, and expert testimony, to establish that the healthcare provider's actions were not only unethical but also illegal.

Statute of limitations

In California, the statute of limitations for sexual abuse cases varies depending on the situation. A statute of limitations creates a legal time limit on how long you have to file a complaint if the court is going to hear your case. If the claim concerns a recent sexual assault, you may have ten years to file, but several factors can impact the limit, and different limits apply when the victim was a child at the time of the abuse. Speaking to an attorney about your claim as soon as possible is important. Your personal injury attorney can work with you to meet the deadline or to determine whether exceptions may extend the time limit.

The role of medical institutions

It’s important to remember that the liability for sexual abuse is not only with the individual perpetrator. Medical institutions like hospitals, clinics, or healthcare networks can also be held liable for sexual abuse if they fail to properly vet their employees, ignore warning signs, or allow a culture of misconduct to persist. For instance, if a hospital knew or should have known about a doctor's abusive behavior but did nothing to stop it, the hospital could be sued for negligence. Our Los Angeles, personal injury attorneys investigate the circumstances surrounding your abuse to determine whether an institution's negligence contributed to the harm you’ve suffered.

Breaking down the barriers to justice

Sexual abuse survivors may face significant hurdles when seeking justice against medical professionals. It’s not uncommon to fear retaliation, experience privacy concerns, and struggle with the emotional toll of reliving the trauma. In some cases, the abuser might be a well-respected figure in the community, making it feel even more difficult to come forward. At Taylor & Ring, our Los Angeles sexual abuse attorneys provide you with a confidential and supportive environment in which you can tell your story without fear of judgment. We also work to protect your privacy throughout the legal process, including using pseudonyms or seeking court orders to keep your sensitive information confidential.

The expert’s role in proving a sexual abuse case

For cases of sexual abuse by a medical professional, having an expert testify can be important because it helps to establish that the practitioner’s actions were outside the bounds of acceptable medical practice. For example, medical expert witnesses can explain to the court how to conduct a proper exam and how the defendant’s actions deviated from those standards. We may also call on psychological experts to testify about the effects of the abuse on your mental health. Our team may coordinate with these types of medical experts to build a strong case on your behalf.

Compensation and damages

Damages awarded in a sexual abuse case will vary widely depending on the details of your claim. However, compensation typically includes:

• Economic damages, such as medical bills and lost income
• Non-economic damages, like pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life

In some cases, courts may also award punitive damages to punish the defendant for particularly egregious conduct and to deter others from similar behavior. Our Los Angeles sexual assault attorneys work to ensure that you receive full and fair compensation for the harm you have endured.