A top rheumatologist has been sued by a former patient for performing ‘unnecessary pelvic and breast exams’ where she was ‘sexually exploited, abused, harassed and molested’, a bombshell lawsuit claims.
Disturbing allegations were made against Dr. Derrick Todd as well as his former employer, Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, where he allegedly sexually assaulted female patients.
Mimi DiTrani, who was a former patient of Todd’s, says in court documents that he contacted her to say he was recommended to treat her.
‘I am horrified. I went to him, he is a specialist in very rare autoimmune rheumatological conditions that I have,’ she said CBS Boston.
She claims Todd performed repeated breast and vaginal examinations and asked her a series of ‘invasive’ questions about her appearance, sexual history and sexual activity.
Dr. Derrick Todd faces a string of disturbing allegations, including that he ‘sexually exploited, abused, harassed and molested’ women
Mimi DiTrani, who was a former patient of Todd’s, says in court documents he contacted her to say he was recommended to treat her
Charles Morris, chief medical officer at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, said Todd’s conduct was investigated after two complaints and he was fired in July of this year
From their first appointment in November, Todd “began to subject her to a course of predatory grooming, boundary violation, mental, emotional and physical sexual abuse masked by his position of power and authority,” court papers filed in state Suffolk Superior Court state.
She continued to visit him for dates until January when she switched to long distance contact until she felt pressured to move to Massachusetts for more dates in June and July.
“I questioned it because I thought maybe I imagined it, it’s a doctor,” she told a news conference.
“When you trust someone to help you, you see them and you’re very vulnerable, and when they violate that trust, and they hurt you instead of healing you, it can be very scary and not easy to process not.
‘I had a premonition. Why did I go back? But that’s why I want to say “it’s not your fault” – these people know what they’re doing.’
DiTrani is not alone — at least 32 women have sought legal advice, with two already filing lawsuits, as the Boston-based doctor is accused of performing “non-medically necessary” tests on his patients.
Attorney Drew Meyer of Lubin & Meyer says his firm represents at least 30 former patients and they are considering a class action.
‘We have been inundated with phone calls. He wanted to know about their sex lives, he wanted to know in detail about what happened to their husbands or their sex lives,” he said.
One woman says Todd performed repeated breast and vaginal exams and asked her a series of ‘invasive’ questions about her appearance, sexual history and sexual activity
‘We made a decision to terminate his employment following that initial investigation’ – hospital
Todd was trusted as a medical professional and he exploited women for his personal gain, lawyers for the women allege
“The abuse and the manipulation by Dr. Todd was horrific, beyond creepy in fact,” Meyers said.
“He convinced patients that he could handle their genealogical investigations, that he could handle their breast exams — that’s a rheumatologist, he shouldn’t be anywhere near that area.”
Charles Morris, chief medical officer at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, said in a statement to DailyMail.com that Todd’s behavior was investigated following two complaints and he was fired in July of this year.
‘We deeply regret the damage that Dr. Todd’s actions hurt our patients and their families.
‘We take our duty to care for our patients and keep them safe extremely seriously. We have, and always will, act decisively on any allegations of misconduct, as we did in this case.
‘We immediately started an internal investigation after we received two anonymous complaints about dr. Todd received. He was then placed on administrative leave once we learned more, and upon completion of that initial investigation, we made a decision to terminate him.
‘We notified the Department of Public Health and the Board of Registration in Medicine and then contacted law enforcement.
‘We also reached out to his current and former patients to talk to them about the care they received and to link them to additional services.
‘At the moment our focus is on our patients and taking care of all their needs, with the hope of ultimately restoring their trust in healthcare.’
While he is being investigated by the state, Dr. Todd signed a voluntary waiver agreeing not to practice medicine in Massachusetts or any other state.
His attorney, Ingrid S. Martin, said her client denies any wrongdoing.
“To the extent that anyone makes claims against him, Dr. Todd believes he has done nothing wrong and will vigorously defend against such claims,” she said.
‘We are fully co-operating with any investigation by the Board of Registration in Medicine.’