EspañolDr Rachandeep Singh Facing Sexual Abuse Charges Made By Employee At River Pointe Post-Acute Facility In Carmichael
CARMICHAEL, CALIFORNIA (July 20, 2023) – Dr Rachandeep Singh was arrested after allegedly sexually assaulting an employee of the River Pointe Post-Acute facility in Carmichael.
Sacramento County officials are saying that the charge is connected to a report of sexual assault in April. Dr Rachandeep Singh has been accused of felony sexual battery.
The employee in questions says that the defendant touched her inappropriately. Deputies made a report of the incident and determined there was enough probable cause to take action with the district attorney.
Dr Rachandeep Singh was arrested at the San Francisco International Airport. Investigators do not believe he was attempting to flee anywhere.
He has since been removed as medical director at the River Pointe Post-Acute facility in Carmichael. He was also a medical director of two other facilities in Stockton and the San Joaquin County area.
Detectives are looking into the possibility that there are other victims. The defendant’s court date is set for August 17.
Liability For Sexual Abuse By Medical Doctors
Sexual assaults in the medical profession are far too common and often lead to lasting trauma. According to one study in Consumer Reports, there were more than 3,100 practicing doctors who had been publicly disciplined after they were accused of sexual abuse. More than 2/3 of the doctors sanctioned were accused of violations involving their patients. Many patients were so traumatized by their experience that they stopped going to doctors altogether. There are a number of steps that hospitals and medical institutions should take to prevent sexual abuse.
- Hospitals and medical institutions should have clear guidelines for appropriate behavior with patients and staff.
- Healthcare employees should be adequately monitored during their work, especially when patients are unconscious or otherwise vulnerable.
- Healthcare employees should be thoroughly vetted before they start working.
- Any suspicious behavior by doctors or other medical staff should be properly reported.
According to California Penal Code § 243.4 PC (a), any person who touches an intimate part of another person while that person is unlawfully restrained for the purposes of sexual arousal, sexual gratification, or sexual abuse is guilty of sexual battery. Under both Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act it is against the law to sexually harass employees. Employers in California can be liable for sexual harassment in the workplace even if they didn’t know about the harassment or they took action to try to prevent it.
A hospital or medical institution could also face liability if a patient is sexually abused by a doctor. Many sexual abuse claims against hospitals or medical institutions are pursued on the basis that the abuser was negligently hired or supervised. If a patient can show that a doctor’s employer created a particular hazard or risk to patients, that employer can be held vicariously liable for the doctor’s actions. There are several elements that must be demonstrated in any claim that a medical institution negligently hired or supervised a doctor.
- The doctor involved was not fit for the job they performed.
- The doctor’s employer knew (or should have known) that they posed a risk to patients.
- The unfit nature of the doctor caused harm to patients.
- The employer’s negligent hiring, supervision or training was a substantial factor in causing a patient’s harm.
By the time a doctor is arrested for sexual assault, there were likely dozens of red flags warning about their behavior. But far too often these red flags are ignored. This should not happen. Any person that is sexually abused by a medical doctor may be able to seek some measure of justice through a civil claim. Sadly, though, it is common for hospitals to deny any responsibility if one of their doctors sexually abuses a patient. 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 Claims Involving Doctors
We at the Carrillo Law Firm, LLP extend our best wishes to all of the people who may have been harmed by the actions of Dr Rachandeep Singh. Any person that may have more information about these invents should speak with Sacramento County police officials. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what happened.
Have you or someone that you care about been sexually abused by a Sacramento County doctor? There are a number of laws designed to protect your rights. Our team of experienced sexual abuse attorneys are here to help in any way that we can. We are committed to holding doctors and their employers accountable for sexual misconduct. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any incident we are here for you. You can contact us anytime at 626-799-9375.
