Stamford Healthcare Sexual Abuse Lawyer

Being sexually abused by a physician who was supposed to be helping you through a medical problem can be traumatic, infuriating, and intimidating. Even if you know that you have valid grounds to file suit against your doctor for assaulting you, the prospect of actually enforcing that right can be far from appealing for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is the financial power your doctor’s employer may use to fight back against your claim.

In a situation like this, it is more important than ever to have the support of a seasoned sexual abuse attorney who knows exactly how to properly handle cases like yours. Let our Stamford healthcare sexual abuse lawyers at Berkowitz and Hanna LLC fight for what you deserve.

Establishing Grounds for a Healthcare Sexual Abuse Lawsuit

It is important to emphasize that sexual abuse in a healthcare setting can take a wide variety of forms, not all of which involve the use of physical force or overt threats to compel sexual intercourse. A Stamford healthcare sexual abuse attorney can also help pursue legal action over numerous other forms of sexual misconduct by a physician with one or more of their patients, including but not strictly limited to:

• Not wearing gloves while touching intimate areas of the body
• Conducting unnecessary physical exams, or asking patients to undress when it is not strictly necessary for medical purposes
• Using sexually suggestive language or gestures while examining a patient
• Insisting on performing intimate examinations without a third party present
• Photographing or videotaping a patient without their knowledge or consent

In all these scenarios, a comprehensive lawsuit can seek compensation for all economic and non-economic damages stemming from a doctor’s inappropriate behavior, including additional medical bills for abuse-related injuries, lost work income, physical pain, and psychological distress.

Can Hospitals Be Held Liable for a Doctor’s Sexual Misconduct?

It is important to note that the organizations that employ abusive physicians can often be held liable alongside their employee(s). As a healthcare sexual abuse lawyer can further explain, this typically entails establishing that management of the facility or company in question should be held “vicariously liable” for the misconduct of their employee.

In some situations, though, healthcare facilities can be directly liable for their own negligent or unlawful actions in relation to an act of sexual abuse committed by one of their doctors or nurses. For example, if a hospital had prior knowledge of sexual misconduct by someone they employed but failed to report that misconduct to authorities and prevent that employee from continuing to interact with patients, that hospital could be civilly at fault just as much as the abusive employee was.

Consider Working with a Stamford Healthcare Sexual Abuse Attorney

You should never receive anything but compassionate and high-quality care from medical professionals. If you were instead sexually harassed, assaulted, or otherwise abused by a physician, you very likely have a right to demand civil restitution from them and potentially from other people who enabled them as well.

That said, enforcing that right in practice can be very challenging alone. Consider reaching out to a Stamford healthcare sexual abuse lawyer from Berkowitz and Hanna LLC for help. Call today to set up your free confidential consultation.