Patient Accuses Doctor of Sexual Assault

A former patient at St. Joseph Hospital filed a lawsuit in Orange County Superior Court here this week claiming that a doctor removed her from the hospital under false pretenses and took her to his home, where he sexually assaulted her.

The patient said she was under the influence of prescribed “mood-altering” drugs and felt threatened by the physician when the assault allegedly occurred the day after she had surgery in July 1996.

The woman had entered the hospital in Orange with a kidney ailment and claims the doctor took advantage of her “physical and emotional vulnerability” when he offered to take her for a ride so she could smoke a cigarette. She alleges he took her to his home instead.

The suit depicts the doctor’s conduct as “malicious, oppressive and fraudulent” and done with “a conscious disregard” for the woman’s health and well-being. It further claims the doctor had sexually assaulted or attempted to sexually assault other patients under his care but the hospital continued to extend staff privileges to him.

The physician could not be reached for comment Thursday and it could not be learned whether he has hired an attorney to represent him.

St. Joseph Hospital spokeswoman Valerie Orleans said the doctor remains on staff, but she would not comment on the suit against him and the hospital.

The woman is seeking damages for battery, infliction of emotional distress and medical malpractice. The woman, who could not be reached for comment, claims to have suffered great anguish and physical pain and is suffering some permanent disability, the lawsuit states.