New York urologist faces over 140 personal injury lawsuits over allegations of sexual abuse.
In a disturbing case that seems to just keep growing, a former New York urologist named Dr. Darius Paduch is facing 143 more lawsuits due to allegations of sexual abuse against his male patients. The total number of victims currently sits at over 300.
Paduch (who we have made a conscious decision to omit his title of doctor) was once a respected doctor who worked for some of the country's most prestigious hospitals, including New York-Presbyterian, Weill Cornell Medical Center, and Northwell Health. Now, he is known for preying on his adult and juvenile patients in an egregious abuse of his position.
The allegations against Paduch are frightening. Victims claim they were sexually abused during medical examinations, usually when they were in extremely vulnerable states, like during procedures or when nobody else was around.
These patients were already seeking care for sensitive health issues and had no choice but to place their trust in the doctor so they could get the care they needed. Instead, Paduch violated that trust in what can only be described as sick.
The reports from the victims and from investigators describe how Paduch not only abused his victims but also inflicted intentional pain on them for his own sexual gratification. And with that piece of information, it is safe to say that who knows what kinds of things this man did over the course of his years as a doctor.
The Staggering Number of Victims Paduch Sexually Assaulted
Who knows the actual number of victims that are out there? Currently, there are over 300, as we mentioned.
But get this: only 5-15% of male victims of sexual abuse or assault report the incidents to authorities. If we use the high number of 15%, that means there could be as many as 2,000 victims who have not come forward because of societal and cultural stigmas.
As the number stands, the scale of the abuse that Paduch enacted is staggering. Legal professionals have noted that this could be the largest case of patient sexual abuse against males by a single perpetrator in U.S. history, and of course, who knows how many more victims will come forward and how many lawsuits will be filed.
Complaints of Paduch's Egregious Behavior Went Unaddressed
Despite the numerous complaints made to the hospitals where he practiced, it appears that these institutions failed to take decisive action. With the sheer number of victims that Paduch sexually abused, there is no doubt that people knew, likely lots, and we know for a fact that there were many official complaints by victims.
By allowing Paduch to continue his predatory behavior unchecked for years, these hospitals put countless more victims in harm's way rather than addressing the problem early on.
This failure has led to civil lawsuits against not only Paduch but also the hospitals he worked at for allegedly being complicit in covering up the abuse, failing to take action to protect their patients, and negligence.
Paduch's Criminal Charges
Darius Paduch has been convicted of multiple counts of sexual abuse, including the abuse of minors, in addition to the civil lawsuits filed against him. His criminal actions spanned from 2007 to 2019, during which he sexually abused patients under the guise of medical care. It's thought that he also used the prestigious medical institutions he worked at to further shield his actions.
When the indictment was first released, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said, “As alleged, Darius A. Paduch was a serial sexual abuser. Purporting to provide clinical care, Paduch instead violated patients — including minors — to gratify his own sexual desires. As alleged in today’s Superseding Indictment, Paduch’s abuse was pervasive, spanning over a decade and victimizing patients inside and outside the clinical setting. With today’s additional charges, my office seeks to hold Paduch accountable for the full measure of his reprehensible conduct.”
In May 2024, Paduch was found guilty of 11 federal charges, including enticement of minors for unlawful sexual activity and sexually abusing patients while conducting medical examinations.
Paduch is awaiting sentencing, which was scheduled for August 2024 but has been moved to November 20, 2024.
It's likely he will face a significant prison sentence, potentially up to 60 years, depending on the outcome of the sentencing hearing. His defense team has indicated plans to appeal the conviction, though the evidence presented at trial suggests this is just a formality; there was little doubt of his guilt.
Personal Injury Lawsuits Filed Over Paduch's Horrible Actions
The Paduch case obviously raises serious questions regarding liability, particularly since the abuse occurred in a medical setting and over the span of roughly 12 years.
Under U.S. law, healthcare providers, including doctors and hospitals, have a duty to care for their patients. When this duty is breached—especially in such a harmful and exploitative way—legal accountability is not limited to only the perpetrator.
In this case, the lawsuits already filed extend beyond Paduch to the hospitals and medical institutions where he worked.
The plaintiffs argue that the hospitals NewYork-Presbyterian and Northwell Health failed to act on numerous complaints filed by both patients and staff. This alleged negligence has left these hospitals vulnerable to claims that they enabled Paduch's abuse by ignoring the warning signs, complaints, and witness accounts.
The brave victims in these cases argue that these institutions not only failed to protect them but also directly contributed to the trauma and horrendous abuse they endured by allowing Paduch to continue practicing urology without any investigation, oversite, or disciplinary actions.
Because of this, the victims of Paduch's sexual abuse are able to seek compensation for their damages under personal injury laws. This compensation can include:
- Compensatory Damages: To cover medical expenses, therapy costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering related to the abuse.
- Punitive Damages: In cases involving egregious conduct, like deliberate abuse by a medical professional and the hospitals' failure to prevent the abuse by ignoring reports, punitive damages can be awarded to punish the perpetrator and coconspirators and to deter similar actions in the future.
- Emotional Distress Damages: Given the long-term psychological impact this kind of abuse can have, many victims may also pursue damages for emotional trauma, such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression, which often arise from sexual abuse and sexual assault of this magnitude.
Holding the Hospitals Accountable
Beyond individual liability, the Paduch case highlights vicarious liability, where institutions can also be held responsible for the actions of their employees.
In healthcare settings, hospitals have a legal duty to monitor their staff and respond quickly to any allegations or signs of misconduct. If it is proven that these hospitals knew about these incidents and failed to address the complaints—or worse, intentionally ignored them to protect themselves—they could face substantial financial penalties for failing to safeguard patients.
This is where this case also intersects with medical malpractice law. While traditional malpractice claims typically center on negligence related to diagnosis or treatment, the lawsuits against Paduch reflect a broader violation of patient rights. Sexual abuse under the guise of medical treatment could certainly fall under the category of medical malpractice since it represents a significant departure from the "accepted standards of care," which is how medical malpractice is determined.
Speaking to a Sexual Abuse Lawyer About Your Case
Victims of sexual abuse by medical professionals—or at other institutions like schools, churches, and anywhere where safety is to be expected—deserve not only criminal justice but also justice through the civil court system, so they are not stuck bearing the pain and the bill. A lawyer cannot completely take your pain, but they can help you to get the help you need to recover and make sure that you are not the one paying the fees.
If you were abused by Darius Paduch or while at any other hospital or institution, contact the nationwide sexual abuse lawyers who are partnered with Lawsuit Legal News for a free consultation. You can contact them by filling out this simple contact form.