Dr. Derrick Todd Sexual Assault Allegations
Dr. Derrick Todd, a Boston-based rheumatologist and primary care provider, is accused of sexual abuse by hundreds of patients. If you or a loved one experienced abuse by Dr. Derrick Todd, we can help you understand your legal rights and options, including filing a doctor sexual abuse lawsuit.
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Author: Kathryn Kosmides
Survivor Advocate
Key Takeaways
- Hundreds of former patients have accused Dr. Derrick Todd of sexual abuse and misconduct during his time at Brigham Women’s Hospital in Boston and Charles River Medical Associates in Framingham Massachusetts.
- Lawsuits filed by patients of Dr. Todd include a class-action suit claiming he performed unnecessary gynecological procedures and other inappropriate exams.
- Sexual assault survivors have rights and options to pursue justice through the legal systems if they were a victim of doctor sexual assault and we can help you understand your legal rights and options.
Who Is Dr. Derrick Todd?
In 1995, Dr. Derrick Todd earned his bachelor’s degree from Yale. He then earned his medical degree in 2003 from UMass Chan Medical School in Worcester, Massachusetts. He practiced for two decades in the Boston area, treating both men and women for inflammatory conditions.
Todd was a prominent rheumatologist at Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital and Charles River Medical Associates. He also treated many patients as their primary care doctor before several accusations of sexual assault came to light.
Two anonymous complaints were filed at Brigham and Women’s in April 2023, accusing Todd of sexual misconduct. The hospital launched an investigation, uncovering additional allegations. In June 2023, the hospital placed Todd on administrative leave and officially terminated him the following month.
On September 5, 2023, Todd voluntarily agreed with the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine to stop practicing medicine.
- What is Doctor Sexual Assault?
- Doctor Sexual Abuse Lawsuits Filed Against Kaiser Permanente
- Utah Dr. David Broadbent Accused of Sexual Assault & Misconduct
- Dr. Edsel Sandoval Sexual Abuse Allegations
- Dr. William Thompson Sexual Abuse Allegations
- Dr. Tyler Hurst Sexual Abuse Allegations
- Major Michael Stockin Sexual Abuse Allegations
- New York Dr. Darius Paduch Accused of Sexual Assault & Misconduct
- New York Dr. Cheng Accused of Sexual Assault & Misconduct
- UCLA Gynecologist: Dr. James Heaps Convicted
- Dr. Hadden Lawsuit in New York
Derrick Todd Sexual Abuse Allegations by Patients
Over the last year or so, hundreds of former patients have come forward with allegations that Todd sexually abused them under the guise of providing medical care, including performing unnecessary exams and procedures, such as the following:
- Breast exams
- Pelvic floor therapy
- Testicular exams
- Rectal exams
- Gynecological exams
Many sexual abuse survivors claim Todd asked inappropriate questions and suggested procedures unrelated to the arthritis or rheumatological conditions he was treating. He also allegedly performed pelvic exams without a chaperone present and without using gloves or lubricant.
Dr. Todd is now facing lawsuits accusing him of the following:
- Medical malpractice
- Negligent infliction of emotional distress
- Intentional infliction of emotional distress
- Sexual assault and battery
Additionally, the lawsuits have named Charles River Medical Associates, The Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and other corporate entities as defendants for negligent hiring, training, retention, supervision, and oversight of Todd. The suits allege the organizations knew or should have known about the abuse but failed to take appropriate action to prevent the abuse.
If you or a loved one were a patient of Derrick Todd and experienced any of the above, Helping Survivors can help you understand your legal rights and options and put you in touch with an attorney experienced in doctor sexual abuse cases to help you seek justice and healing. Get in touch with us today.
Derrick Todd Lawsuits Filed by Patients- July 2024 Updates
Several former patients filed lawsuits in 2023 and 2024. Numerous claims have since been consolidated into a class-action lawsuit.
The following Massachusetts lawsuits are pending over the Todd sexual misconduct allegations:
- October 10, 2023: Case 2384CV02287; Ditrani, Marianne vs. Todd, Derrick J., et al.
- October 11, 2023: Case 2384CV02299; Nancy Larsen, On Behalf Of Herself And All Others Similarly Situated vs. Todd, MD, Derrick, et al.
- October 19, 2023: Case 2384CV02376; Doe, Jane vs. Todd, MD, Derrick J., et al.
- October 19, 2023: Case 2384CV02377; Doe, Jane vs. Todd, MD, Derrick J., et al.
- October 19, 2023: Case 2384CV02378; Doe, Jane vs. Todd, MD, Derrick J., et al.
- October 23, 2023: Case 2384CV02394; Cappello, Laura vs. Todd, MD, Derrick, et al.
The number of patients suing Todd has risen to 206 as of July 2024. These former patients have joined the class action suit to seek compensation for their injuries and suffering. Attorneys for the sexual abuse survivors filed a master complaint to unite the numerous lawsuits against the doctor. You may be able to join the class action suit or file an individual claim against Todd and his employers — but the statute of limitations, – which is the amount of time after a specific type of incident happens that criminal charges can be brought, or a civil lawsuit filed, may hinder your ability to bring a claim. This is why speaking to an experienced doctor sexual abuse attorney as soon as possible is critical — and we can put you in touch with one today.
Were You a Patient of Dr. Derrick Todd?
You deserve justice if Dr. Todd sexually abused you. What happened to you matters, and hundreds of other survivors are coming together to hold him accountable for his actions.
If you are a survivor of abuse by Dr. Todd, you don’t have to suffer in silence and deal with the aftermath alone. You may be entitled to seek justice and compensation by filing a civil lawsuit against Todd and his employers.
Helping Survivors can provide resources and support for you and your family. Our team can help you seek medical assistance, understand how to report doctor sexual abuse, connect you with emotional support, and provide information about your legal options.
In addition, we can connect you with a compassionate and experienced doctor sexual abuse lawyer who can counsel you regarding your legal options and help you make an informed decision about how to proceed.
Contact Helping Survivors to learn more about your rights and how to seek compensation for what you’ve endured.
Doctor Sexual Assault: Support for Those Impacted
Patients put a lot of trust in their health care professionals. Unfortunately, some doctors betray that trust and take advantage of people when they’re most vulnerable. Victims of sexual assault may not even know they’ve been abused because they believe their doctor is acting in their best interests.
Examples of Doctor Sexual Assault
Doctor sexual assault or abuse can take several forms. Some instances of sexual misconduct may be more subtle, while others are physically aggressive. Some examples include the following:
- Performing unnecessary procedures or acts, such as touching unrelated body parts
- Making suggestive comments or sexual remarks
- Refusing to allow a chaperone or nurse to be present for an exam
- Pressuring patients to remove clothing unnecessarily for the exam
- Creating electronic images of sexual or intimate body parts without the patient’s knowledge or consent
- Touching a patient’s sexual or intimate body parts with no gloves
- Touching a patient’s sexual or intimate body parts through clothing
- Forcing a patient to perform sexual favors in exchange for services or medication
Recent Doctor Sexual Assault Cases
While there are strict standards governing health care practitioners in the United States, doctor sexual assault happens more frequently than you may think. Data from the United States National Practitioner Data Bank shows there were 974 disciplinary actions due to sexual misconduct against 862 physicians between January 2003 and September 2013.
The data represents a rate of 9.5 disciplinary actions for every 10,000 physicians in 10 years. However, the analysis does not include physicians who had complaints filed against them but did not receive state licensing disciplinary actions.
Recent and well-known cases against doctors include:
- New York urologist Dr. Darius Paduch was charged with sexually assaulting patients, including minors.
- Former gynecologist Dr. Robert Hadden was convicted of committing numerous acts of sexual abuse against his patients at Columbia University’s affiliated hospitals.
- UCLA gynecologist Dr. James Heaps was charged with sexual misconduct and other felony counts.
- New York doctor Dr. Zhi Alan Cheng was accused of sexually assaulting, drugging, and illegally recording them at his Queens practice.
- Obstetrician-gynecologist Dr. David Broadbent faced multiple allegations of sexual assault, professional misconduct, and harassment against patients.
Support for Victims of Sexual Assault by a Health Care Practitioner
If you have experienced sexual misconduct at the hands of a medical practitioner, you are not alone. Helping Survivors provides resources to sexual assault victims, helping them understand how to report the abuse and get support.
Reporting options for doctor sexual assault and misconduct include the following:
- Report the abuse to your state’s medical board.
- Report the abuse to local law enforcement. Sexual abuse by a doctor is a crime.
- File a lawsuit against the doctors, their employers, and those institutions that enabled the abuse.
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