A New York City doctor has been found guilty of sexually assaulting eight patients, including minors, under the guise of medical treatment. According to the New York PostDarius Paduch was a urologist specializing in infertility and male reproductive health. The outlet reported that he committed the abuse from 2015 through 2019 when he was alone in the exam room with his patients.
According to the indictment, he allegedly instructed his victims to masturbate themselves. He also used sex toys on it and performed unnecessary rectal examinations without wearing gloves.
The 55-year-old doctor was found guilty by a federal court jury on Wednesday of all 13 charges he faced in connection with his sexual abuse of eight patients, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Manhattan.
In a press release, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said, “As a unanimous jury just found, Darius A. Paduch leveraged his position of trust as a physician for his perverse gratification. For years, patients in need of medical care, including many children, left his office as victims. “I commend this office's career prosecutors for bringing this important case to a successful conclusion.”
Statement from U.S. Attorney Damian Williams on the sentencing of Darius Paduch
🔗: https://t.co/OnAFAhl6tppic.twitter.com/cT85xCGe4x
— U.S. Attorney SDNY (@SDNYnews) May 8, 2024
The doctor defended himself and claimed that some of his methods of touching patients were medically necessary. However, according to the complaint, they were intended for his sexual gratification.
After the verdict, Mallory Allen, an attorney who represented his victims, said: “For nearly two decades, patients who trusted him for their medical care and treatment were instead abused by his degrading, sexually abusive and medically unwarranted actions while he was in the hospitals fed up. worked the other way.
“The jury's verdict in the criminal case confirms that these heinous acts will not be overlooked, and the ongoing civil cases will ensure that the institutions that have repeatedly put profit over their patients will face consequences for their indifference in ignoring years of complaints,” Mr. Allen added.
The disgraced doctor, who has been behind bars since his arrest in April 2023, faces a prison sentence of 60 years. However, his lawyer Michael Baldassare said his client would appeal.
''Dr. Darius Paduch has maintained his innocence since the beginning of this case. He maintains this to this day and we will continue to fight for him. We will file post-trial motions, appeals and seek all available relief,” he said.