EspañolBeverly Hills OBGYN Barry Brock Faces Dozens of Lawsuits From Women Accusing Him of Sexual Abuse, Gender Violence, and More
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA (October 10, 2024) – Dozens of former patients of Beverly Hills OBGYN Barry Brock have filed lawsuits alleging that they were sexually abused in the course of their care.
Dr. Barry Brock served as a medical doctor for over 40 years at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and other facilities. According to the lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, Cedars-Sinai was aware of his misconduct and covered it up.
The legal claim states that the scope of the abuse was widespread. According to the lawsuit, “Defendants Brock and institutional defendants violated and betrayed the trust of hundreds, if not thousands, of female patients by sexually exploiting, abusing and covering up Brock’s acts of sexual exploitation and abuse.”
A representative for Cedars-Sinai has said that Dr. Barry Brock no longer works at the hospital and has since been reported to the California Medical Board. One plaintiff in the suit claimed that she was given an unnecessary breast examination.
For his part, Dr. Barry Brock has denied any wrongdoing.
Liability For Sexual Abuse By Medical Doctors
Sexual abuse in a medical setting remains all too common across the United States. According to one study in Consumer Reports, “Thousands of doctors across the U.S. are on medical probation for reasons including drug abuse, sexual misconduct, and making careless—sometimes deadly—mistakes. But they’re still out there practicing.” Part of the problem is that many of these perpetrators are never disciplined or stopped from practicing medicine. Sexual misconduct can take many different forms in a medical setting.
- A doctor may have engaged in the inappropriate touching of a patient beyond what is medically necessary.
- A doctor may have made sexually explicit comments to a patient.
- A doctor may have performed sensitive medical exams that were not medically necessary.
- A doctor may have entered a sexual relationship with a patient.
Hospitals have a legal obligation to protect patients from foreseeable sources of harm. This includes protection from sexual abuse. Much of the abuse that takes place in a medical setting occurs when doctors inappropriately touch patients under the guise of medical care. This is a crime and may expose doctors and hospitals to civil liability. Pursuant to California Penal Code § 243.4(c), a person commits sexual battery by fraudulent representation when they trick a person into believing that the battery serves some type of medical or professional purpose. A number of lawsuits alleging sexual abuse in a medical setting claim that the perpetrator was negligently hired or retained. Several elements must be demonstrated in such a claim.
- The doctor was unfit for their job or posed an unreasonable danger to clients.
- The doctor’s employer knew or should have known about the danger that the worker posed.
- The unfit nature of the doctor caused harm to the victim.
- The company’s negligent hiring or retention was a substantial factor in causing the harm.
Sexual abuse in a medical setting is often highly preventable. By the time any doctor is facing criminal charges or lawsuits alleging sexual abuse, there are often dozens of red flags that are missed. Sadly, many hospitals simply turn a blind eye to the abuse that is taking place in their midst. It is important that victims of sexual abuse understand that they do have rights. Any person who is sexually abused by a medical doctor may be able to seek some measure of justice through a civil claim. A sexual abuse attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating Sexual Abuse By Medical Doctors
We at the Carrillo Law Firm, LLP extend our best wishes to all of the people who have been impacted by the alleged misconduct of Dr. Barry Brock. There needs to be a thorough investigation into the scope and scale of the abuse that may have taken place. It is our sincere hope that Cedars-Sinai will take additional measures to prevent anything similar from happening again.
Have you or someone that you care about been impacted by doctor sexual abuse in Los Angeles County? We care deeply that victims of sexual abuse are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at 626-799-9375.
