{"id":23381,"date":"2026-08-19T09:40:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-19T13:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.napolilaw.com\/?p=23381"},"modified":"2026-07-07T11:49:10","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T15:49:10","slug":"sexual-abuse-by-medical-professionals-know-your-rights-and-legal-options","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.napolilaw.com\/es\/article\/sexual-abuse-by-medical-professionals-know-your-rights-and-legal-options\/","title":{"rendered":"Sexual Abuse by Medical Professionals: Know Your Rights and Legal Options\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What&nbsp;is Sexual Abuse by a Medical Professional?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sexual abuse by a medical provider is any non-consensual sexual act, comment, or contact that occurs while&nbsp;you&#8217;re&nbsp;receiving care. It can be subtle,&nbsp;an inappropriate joke, a lingering touch,&nbsp;or overt, such as unwanted sexual contact. Either way,&nbsp;it&#8217;s&nbsp;a violation of your trust, your body, and, often, the law.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These experiences can leave lasting physical, emotional, and psychological scars, and many survivors&nbsp;don&#8217;t&nbsp;immediately&nbsp;recognize what happened to them as abuse.&nbsp;That&#8217;s&nbsp;part of why it&nbsp;remains&nbsp;so underreported.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When you see a doctor, dentist, therapist, or any other medical professional,\u00a0you&#8217;re\u00a0placing your health and your trust in their hands. That trust should never be broken. But for a troubling number of patients, it is.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This guide breaks down what sexual abuse in a medical setting can look like, what your rights are during an exam, and what steps you can take if something feels wrong.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What&nbsp;are Your Rights&nbsp;During a Medical Exam?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A visit to a medical provider,&nbsp;whether routine or more sensitive in nature,&nbsp;should always feel safe and respectful. As a patient,&nbsp;you&#8217;re&nbsp;entitled to:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Privacy while changing clothes or during exams\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A clear explanation before and during any part of the exam\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A request for your consent before being touched, along with\u00a0a reason why\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The ability to stop the exam at any time, for any reason\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A chaperone in the room if you want one\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Gloves are used during any exam involving\u00a0private areas\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Your pain and discomfort are being taken seriously\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Respect for your language, culture, and religious beliefs\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If any of these basic protections are missing, or&nbsp;you&#8217;re&nbsp;made to feel unsafe or uncomfortable,&nbsp;that&#8217;s&nbsp;a red flag worth paying attention to.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where the Line Is: What&#8217;s Appropriate and What&nbsp;Isn&#8217;t&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some exams necessarily involve intimate areas of the body,&nbsp;but even then, clear boundaries apply.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>A provider should:<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Use gloves and proper draping\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Limit exposure to only the area being examined\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Encourage questions\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Explain each step as it happens\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>A provider should never:<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Make sexual comments or gestures\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Touch you without gloves during an intimate exam\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Refuse to explain what\u00a0they&#8217;re\u00a0doing\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Insist on full undressing when it\u00a0isn&#8217;t\u00a0medically necessary\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Deny your request to have someone else in the room\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Recognizing Sexual Misconduct in a Medical Setting&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to the Federation of State Medical Boards, sexual misconduct covers a wide spectrum of behavior,&nbsp;from harassment to non-consensual sexual contact. Examples include:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Offering treatment, prescriptions, or services in exchange for sexual favors\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Performing an intimate exam without medical necessity or your consent\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Deliberately watching you undress\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Making sexually suggestive jokes or comments about your body\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Asking sexual history questions unrelated to your care\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnewyork.com\/news\/local\/brookdale-hospital-lawsuit-sexual-abuse\/6518210\/?amp=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Touching your genitals,<\/a>\u00a0breasts, or buttocks in a way that\u00a0isn&#8217;t\u00a0clinical\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Kissing, oral sex, or intercourse\u00a0initiated\u00a0by the provider\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sexual Abuse by Doctors: Statistics Every Patient Should Know&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Research on physician sexual misconduct paints a sobering picture of how widespread\u00a0and how hidden\u00a0this problem is.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Scope of the problem:<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Between 2003 and 2013, over a thousand physicians had at least one sexual misconduct report filed with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.npdb.hrsa.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">National Practitioner Data Bank<\/a>.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/journals\/psychology\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2022.1005696\/full\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2023 study<\/a>\u00a0found that 8.96% of patients reported experiencing sexual violence perpetrated by a healthcare professional.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Only an estimated\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/rainn.org\/what-counts-as-sexual-violence\/get-the-facts-about-sexual-abuse-by-medical-professionals\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">5\u201310% of victims<\/a>\u00a0ever report abuse by a physician, making it one of the most\u00a0underreported crimes in healthcare.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Who&#8217;s&nbsp;affected, and by whom:<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In an\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/colab.ws\/articles\/10.1177%2F1079063217712217\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">analysis<\/a>\u00a0of 101 physician sexual abuse cases,\u00a0roughly 89%\u00a0of victims were women, and about 60% were adults.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>These cases occurred most often in family medicine and pediatrics, followed by psychiatry and neurology, internal medicine, and OB\/GYN.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/full\/10.1080\/15548732.2025.2469168\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2024 study<\/a>\u00a0found that 1 in 5 cases involved vulnerable patients, such as minors or people with cognitive disabilities, and\u00a0roughly 1\u00a0in 3 cases involved grooming behaviors like boundary-crossing or inappropriate attention.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In the 101-case analysis, 85% of the offending physicians examined patients without a chaperone present, and 72% lacked board certification.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Repeat behavior and accountability gaps:<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/mcasa.org\/assets\/files\/Sexual_Violence_in_Health_Care_Fact_Sheet_2025.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2019 study<\/a>\u00a0found that the vast majority of offenders had engaged in repeated misconduct, and nearly all admitted their actions were intentional.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/10.1177\/1079063217712217?__cf_chl_f_tk=dC7pdLGvkgwobh6uQnCC0qNqkUXA_STkwGq911hpyd0-1783350203-1.0.1.1-7eWphP_HMvUaPF8CBuFt12W9MM6cNtQ21Dk8AO3x56A\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">separate analysis<\/a>\u00a0found that while 87% of doctors accused of sexual misconduct lost or gave up their licenses, 74% were later allowed to return to practice.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Only a handful of U.S. states require medical boards to report sexual abuse allegations to law enforcement.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>One\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/qualitysafety.bmj.com\/content\/qhc\/21\/12\/976.full.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">revisar<\/a>\u00a0found that 81% of sexual misconduct cases against doctors closed with no formal action, and just 2% led to official discipline.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These numbers\u00a0don&#8217;t\u00a0just point to individual bad\u00a0actors;\u00a0they point to systemic gaps that allow abuse to continue.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Medical Sexual Abuse Often Goes Unreported&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most survivors never report what happened to them. Many&nbsp;don&#8217;t&nbsp;recognize the experience&nbsp;as&nbsp;abuse in the moment, especially in a setting where&nbsp;they&#8217;re&nbsp;taught to trust the person examining them. Others fear they&nbsp;won&#8217;t&nbsp;be&nbsp;believed, or&nbsp;simply&nbsp;don&#8217;t&nbsp;know how or where to file a report.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If&nbsp;you&#8217;ve&nbsp;felt confused about whether something that happened to you &#8220;counts,&#8221; know this: your instincts matter. If something&nbsp;felt&nbsp;wrong,&nbsp;it&#8217;s&nbsp;worth&nbsp;taking&nbsp;seriously.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Protect Yourself During a Medical Visit&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Bring a chaperone.<\/strong>\u00a0A trusted friend, family member, or staff chaperone in the room can help you feel safer and can serve as a witness.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Ask for a different provider.<\/strong>\u00a0You can request a new provider, or a provider of a different sex, at any point,\u00a0even mid-appointment. Rescheduling is a small inconvenience compared to your safety and comfort.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Stop the exam.<\/strong>\u00a0You are never\u00a0obligated\u00a0to continue. You can say, &#8220;I&#8217;m feeling uncomfortable, so I&#8217;m going to leave now,&#8221; or simply walk out.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Report Sexual Misconduct by a Provider&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you believe&nbsp;you&#8217;ve&nbsp;experienced sexual misconduct by a physician, you can file a complaint with your state&#8217;s medical board. For other types of providers, different licensing boards apply:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Nurses:<\/strong>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncsbn.org\/contact-bon.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">National Council of State Boards of Nursing<\/a>\u00a0(NCSBN)\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Chiropractors:<\/strong>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/fclb.org\/index.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards<\/a>\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Physical therapists:<\/strong>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.fsbpt.org\/ThePublic\/FileaComplaint.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy<\/a>\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Dentists:<\/strong>\u00a0Su\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ada.org\/en\/education-careers\/licensure\/licensure-dental-students\/state-dental-boards\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">state&#8217;s dental board<\/a>, listed through the American Dental Association\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Reporting to&nbsp;a licensing board is a separate process from pursuing legal action,&nbsp;and&nbsp;you&#8217;re&nbsp;not required to choose one over the other.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">You Have Legal Options&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Can You Sue a&nbsp;doctor&nbsp;or Hospital for Sexual Abuse?&nbsp;If you were sexually abused by a doctor, nurse, therapist, or any other medical professional, you may be entitled to pursue a civil claim,&nbsp;separate from any criminal case or licensing&nbsp;board&nbsp;investigation. A successful claim can help hold the provider and, in many cases, the hospital or practice that employed them accountable, while providing compensation for your medical care, therapy, lost wages, and pain and suffering.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At Napoli Shkolnik, we understand how difficult it can be to come forward. Our attorneys handle these cases with the discretion and compassion survivors deserve, and&nbsp;we&#8217;re&nbsp;prepared to fight for accountability on your behalf.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you or someone you love has experienced sexual abuse by a medical professional,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.napolilaw.com\/contact-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">contacto<\/a>\u00a0Napoli\u00a0Shkolnik\u00a0for a confidential consultation.\u00a0<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What&nbsp;is Sexual Abuse by a Medical Professional?&nbsp; Sexual abuse by a medical provider is any non-consensual sexual act, comment, or contact that occurs while&nbsp;you&#8217;re&nbsp;receiving care. It can be subtle,&nbsp;an inappropriate&#8230;<\/p>","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":23382,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[794],"tags":[947,1026],"class_list":["post-23381","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sexual-harassment","tag-sexual-abuse","tag-healthcare"],"acf":[],"page_builder_type":"gutenberg","gutenberg_data":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.napolilaw.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23381","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.napolilaw.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.napolilaw.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.napolilaw.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.napolilaw.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23381"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.napolilaw.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23381\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23383,"href":"https:\/\/www.napolilaw.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23381\/revisions\/23383"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.napolilaw.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23382"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.napolilaw.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23381"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.napolilaw.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23381"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.napolilaw.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23381"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}