A former doctor at Boston’s Brigham & Women’s Hospital, along with several other local hospitals, is facing lawsuits from over 85 women accusing him of sexual abuse.
According to court documents filed in Suffolk County Superior Court on Wednesday, Dr. Derrick Todd, a rheumatologist, engaged in improper pelvic examinations, breast examinations, and rectal examinations while providing “primary care” to patients at Brigham and other nearby hospitals.
According to the class action lawsuit, the examinations were conducted for the purpose of satisfying his own sexual desires.
The lawsuit is the third filed in the last two weeks against Todd, CBS Boston reported. The first was filed by an anonymous plaintiff on Sept. 29, and the second was filed by former patient Mimi DiTrani on Tuesday, Oct. 10.
DiTrani told CBS Boston that she went to see Todd because “he has a specialist in very rare autoimmune rheumatological conditions, which I have.” Rather than perform MRIs on her bones, though, she said he insisted on repeated gynecological exams and breast exams.
According to the plaintiffs’ attorney who spoke with CBS News on Thursday afternoon, the current count of women participating in the third lawsuit exceeds 85 and is anticipated to increase in the near future. The legal documents submitted on Wednesday encompassed a minimum of 70 previous patients, with Nancy Larsen leading as the primary plaintiff.
Brigham Hospital started investigating Todd in April after receiving two anonymous complaints about examinations, said Brigham’s Chief Medical Officer Charles Morris in a statement to CBS News. He was placed on administrative leave while the hospital was investigating, Morris said.
Todd was fired by the hospital in July after they gained more information. Morris stated that the hospital not only informed his former patients but also reached out to the Department of Public Health and the Board of Registration in Medicine. Additionally, law enforcement was also contacted by the hospital.
CBS News asked the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office if they were investigating the allegations, but they declined to provide a comment.
Morris expressed the hospital’s profound remorse for the adverse impact of Dr. Todd’s actions on our patients and their families. Additionally, the hospital will promptly address any claims of misconduct with firm action.
Dr. Todd’s attorney, Ingrid S. Martin, stated to CBS News that the doctor has been completely cooperative with all investigations and confidently believes that these allegations will ultimately be proven false.
- In:
- Massachusetts
- Sexual Abuse
