NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical is facing a lawsuit alleging that the hospital system concealed years of abuse by a disgraced urologist, Dr. Darius Paduch.
The 55-year-old doctor was first arrested in April following accusations of sexually assaulting patients, including minors, with incidents dating back to 2015, according to Fox News.
Since his arrest, numerous victims have come forward alleging sexual assault by Paduch. The latest lawsuit, filed on Thursday, represents 58 male victims who claim the abuse spanned from 2003 to 2022.
Anthony T. DiPietro, the attorney who filed the new lawsuit on behalf of the victims in New York Supreme Court, stated, "I've been at this for the past 11 years. Every time the story has run, people call. That's just how it's been for over a decade. I know there are thousands of patients out there that just don't know that what he was doing was sexual exploitation and abuse."
The lawsuit alleges that Paduch "pretended to practice medicine in the field of Urology, while instead engaging in a career of racketeering, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, and sex-trafficking of both minors and adults." It further describes Paduch as a "disgusting, sadistic, and perverted sexual predator" who used his esteemed position to sexually exploit and abuse patients under the guise of providing legitimate medical care.
The lawsuit also alleges that Paduch overprescribed opioids to his patients, fostering dependency over an extended period. The New York Post previously reported that Paduch would inflict pain on his patients by performing procedures without anesthesia and has been accused of fondling young boys and using sex toys on his patients.
Despite these allegations, Fox News reported that Weill Cornell's ethics board received direct complaints from victims and attempted to "buy the victims' silence," as per the lawsuit. The lawsuit further alleges that the defendants and their trustees were aware of Paduch's actions but failed to intervene.
In response to these allegations, Weill Cornell Medical Center reportedly issued a statement to Fox News, stating, "The conduct described in these suits is extremely disturbing, and we feel deeply for all those involved. No patient who entrusts us with their care should ever experience such appalling behavior. We continue to cooperate fully with law enforcement and are committed to maintaining the highest professional and ethical standards."
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