Sexual Abuse and the Health Care Industry
Doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals hold a position of trust with their patients. Patients who need medical help are already in distress. Patients have the right to expect that all medical professionals will treat them with the highest degree of respect, and that they will not do or say anything to take sexual advantage of a patient. Both children and adults have the right to be protected from molestation or improper sexual contact.
Within a medical office or hospital, the medical staff have the right to expect that the doctors and medical supervisors will not abuse their position by sexually abusing or assaulting a co-worker or employee.
Which laws and rules apply to sexual abuse by medical professionals?
Some of the remedies available to victims of sexual misconduct are:
- Criminal complaints. There are federal and state criminal laws that make it a crime to rape or sexually assault If this type of horrible conduct takes place, the person who commits the sexual abuse deserves to be prosecuted.
- Loss of license. Sexual abuse victims can also file a complaint against hospitals, doctors, and others medical providers with the Medical Board of California. This state agency can investigate the claim and take away the appropriate medical license of any violators.
- Civil litigation. It is medical malpractice to sexually abuse a patient or anyone who works in the medical profession. No competent doctor would take advantage of or sexually pressure or abuse any patient or employee. When patients or healthcare workers are sexually abused, an experienced Los Angeles sexual abuse lawyer will bring claims for:
- Any physical harm.
- All psychological harm including sessions with psychiatrists, psychologists, sexual abuse counselors, and other emotional counselors.
- The loss of any wages because they victim is unable to work.
- The loss of consortium and society of a spouse.
- Punitive damages. Sexual abuse that is intentional and malicious (most cases are) justifies a claim for punitive damages to punish the wrongdoers.
The right to hold doctors accountable, civilly and criminally, applies to all types of doctors without exception.
Nobody should be sexually abused. Nobody should be sexually assaulted. These standards apply for patients and workers. Doctors and other medical care providers cannot and must not use their position of authority and trust to take advantage of anyone. If you or someone you love was sexually assaulted, abused, or tragically took their own life while receiving medical care or working in the medical profession, our lawyers can help you get justice.
Please call the lawyers at Taylor & Ring for caring help. We can be reached at 310-776-6390 or by using our contact form. We are proud to fight for clients throughout Southern California; let us fight for you, too.
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David Ring is a nationally renowned plaintiff’s personal injury trial attorney and has obtained multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements on behalf of seriously-injured individuals or families who have lost a loved one in a tragic accident. For more than 20 years, he has represented victims of sexual abuse, sexual harassment, assault, molestation and sexual misconduct in cases against a variety of employers and entities, including schools, churches and youth organizations.
He prides himself on providing aggressive, yet compassionate representation for children who have been sexually abused and women who have been sexually harassed or assaulted. Read more about David M. Ring.