Advertisement

Encino doctor is accused of sexually assaulting female patients during exams

Share

An Encino doctor has been charged with sexually assaulting two female patients during exams in his office, authorities said.

Michael Howard Popkin, 67, faces two misdemeanor counts of sexual battery, one felony count of sexual battery by restraint and a felony count of sexual exploitation of a patient by a physician, according to a Los Angeles County Superior Court criminal complaint. The incidents occurred between June 2014 and July 2016.

Popkin, who was arrested on Dec. 5 and later released, is expected to be arraigned Dec. 30 in Van Nuys.

Advertisement

When reached at his office Tuesday afternoon, Popkin told the Los Angeles Times that the allegations “are not true.”

“I am restrained by my attorney to go into details,” he said. “All I can say is that I have treated thousands of women in my nearly 40 years of practice. I think my patients are very fond of me, both men and women.”

Los Angeles police detectives with the West Valley Sex Crimes Unit suspect Popkin has assaulted more female patients.

Shortly after police released details about the doctor’s arrest Tuesday, LAPD Det. Edward Moreno said he received calls from other women.

Popkin, who has been practicing internal medicine for nearly 40 years in California, is accused of inappropriately touching and sexually assaulting two women during medical examinations in his Encino office, Moreno said.

Moreno said two complaints of sexual battery were made to the Medical Board of California in 2001 and 2003. The outcome of those complaints was unclear Tuesday.

Advertisement

Cassandra Hockenson, the board’s spokeswoman, said the state agency doesn’t release information about complaints because they are confidential. She said the board is working with investigators.

The board, she said, is preparing to take appropriate action regarding Popkin’s license. A judge can either order that his license be suspended at his arraignment or the board can issue an interim suspension order if it doesn’t happen in court, Hockenson said.

She said the board is “well aware” of Popkin’s case.

Popkin, who is also a surgeon, was reprimanded in 2005 and placed on probation for three years after he was accused of gross negligence and incompetence, according to documents filed with the medical board. He was accused of failing to maintain adequate records for his patients and prescribing medications without exams.

In one instance, Popkin was treating a 29-year-old woman who had chronic back pain as a result of a crash. He was accused of failing to document her pain, psychological status and the dates he had prescribed powerful opiates, according to the documents. His notes also failed to include information about her addiction to opiates as well as details about her physical condition, according to the documents.

According to the board, Popkin had “engaged in an extreme departure from the standard of practice” of care and treatment for the patient.

On Tuesday, Popkin said the accusations of sexual battery were the result of “difficulties with two to three people.” He described the incidents as “all different circumstances.” One of the incidents “you can laugh at” and the other two involved different personalities, he said.

Advertisement

Popkin said he was arrested in his medical office and carried away in handcuffs in front of his office staff.

“It was humiliating,” he said. “Obviously, news travels fast.”

Popkin said he asked for the public to wait for the trial “before you make any judgment.”

Anyone with details about Popkin is urged to call Moreno at (818) 374-7714 or Det. Ninette Toosbuy at (818) 374-7718.

veronica.rocha@latimes.com

For breaking news in California, follow @VeronicaRochaLA on Twitter.

ALSO

CorePower Yoga founder dead in his San Diego home

Advertisement

Ex-deputy who took bribe to smuggle phone into jail testifies in Baca trial

Businessman is convicted in shotgun slaying of woman on Hollywood street over wage dispute


UPDATES:

3:50 p.m.: This article was updated to include comments from physician Michael Popkin.

This article was originally published at 3:10 p.m.

Advertisement