Dr. William Thompson: How Victims Can Seek Justice
"*" indicates required fields
Author: Kathryn Kosmides
Survivor Advocate
Key Takeaways
- Dr. William Thompson is accused of sexually assaulting at least 70 of his male patients over the last ten years, including through forced prostate exams.
- He is currently out on bond, awaiting a criminal trial for over 40 criminal charges related to sexually abusing his mostly LGBTQ+ patients.
- If you were a patient of Dr. Thompson, you have legal rights and options, including filing a lawsuit against Thompson and associates. We can connect you with an experienced lawyer to explore filing a case.
Dr. William Thompson Sexual Abuse Allegations: Criminal Charges & Civil Lawsuits
Dr. William Thompson IV, a Newport Beach, California, infectious disease physician who specialized in treating members of the LGBTQ+ community, was arrested in September 2023 for 20 felony criminal charges for sexually assaulting nine of his patients.
He is currently out on a $100,000 bond awaiting trial—and now faces numerous civil lawsuits filed by former patients.
The criminal charges pressed against Dr. Thompson came after the Newport Beach Police Department and the California Department of Consumer Affairs launched investigations into Dr. Thompson in early 2023 after several patients reported the abuse.
Identifying doctor sexual assault can be hard for patients—as it often involves abuse under the guise of seemingly normal medical care. In the case of Dr. William Thompson, he was able to abuse male patients under the pretext of providing necessary or preventative care, including convincing his infectious disease patients they needed to undergo prostate exams.
The brave patients who have already come forward have alleged that Thompson performed “overly aggressive” and unreasonably frequent prostate exams—with some patients alleging that after the exam, Thompson would show patients how “aroused” he was after performing the exam.
- 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
Over 70 of his former patients have now filed sexual abuse lawsuits against him and his associates.
The Medical Board of California revoked Thompson’s license as of June 14, 2024, citing “gross negligence in his care for his patients, sexual misconduct, record-keeping, and for the reckless use of alcohol.” Thompson has lost his medical license and must pay the Medical Board of California $111,280 for the investigation.
If you were a patient of Dr. William Thompson, you have legal rights and options to seek justice and healing. Helping Survivors works with experienced doctor sexual assault law firms around the country and can put you in touch with a lawyer who can help you understand your rights and options, including filing a police report and a lawsuit against Dr. Thompson over the harm that happened to you.
Criminal Charges Against Dr. William Thompson [July 2024]
Thompson was arrested in September 2023 on 20 felony charges for sexual assault and abuse for sexually assaulting nine male patients between 2016 and 2020.
As of June 2024, the number of criminal charges against Dr. William Thompson has grown to more than 40 counts, including charges of sexual battery by fraud, sexual penetration by means of fraudulent representation, public offense and sexual battery, and forcible oral copulation.
He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and is currently out on bail as of publication.
If you were abused by Dr. William Thompson, you still have time to file a report with law enforcement. We can help you understand how to report the abuse to law enforcement and seek justice.
Civil Lawsuits Against Dr. William Thompson [July 2024]
More recently, over 70 patients of Dr. Thompson have filed lawsuits against him and Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian, which previously employed Hoag. Many patients who have come forward to file claims against Thompson have done so anonymously, as John Does, to protect their confidentiality.
The claims against Thompson and Hoag allege that he was able to sexually abuse patients for over a decade, including while employed at Hoag. Additionally, the lawsuit claims that Hoag ignored complaints and failed to investigate Thompson—even after doctors and witnesses allegedly reported him to the hospital years prior.
If you were a patient of Dr. William Thompson, continue reading to learn more about your legal rights and options, including participating in the ongoing lawsuits against him.
Legal Rights and Options for Patients of Dr. William Thompson
Some of the brave individuals who have already come forward alleged they experienced doctor sexual abuse for years at the hands of Thompson. Their repeat abuse was likely due to the nature of doctor sexual assault. The doctor-patient relationship creates a dynamic where a patient inherently trusts a medical professional and often does not know if a procedure is necessary or being performed correctly. It appears that Thompson’s abuse escalated over the years and became more outright and violent as time went on, with hundreds of possible victims over his 10+ year career.
If you were a patient of Dr. Thompson, you have three main reporting options:
- Report to Law Enforcement: Given the ongoing criminal investigation and 40+ criminal charges against Thompson, law enforcement believes more victims have yet to come forward. Authorities are encouraging patients to speak to them and file an official police report to document the harm that happened to them.
- Report to Medical Board: While Thompson’s medical license was revoked as of June 15, 2024, you can still file a report with the Medical Board of California to document your allegations of doctor sexual abuse at the hands of Thompson.
- File a Dr. William Thompson Lawsuit: You deserve justice and healing. Filing a lawsuit can help you seek financial compensation for the harm that happened so you can seek mental health support, get reimbursed for time missed from work, pay related medical expenses, and recover for your other damages, such as pain, suffering, and emotional distress. Filing a doctor sexual assault lawsuit should not cost any money upfront as the experienced attorneys we work with take these cases on contingency.
Speaking to an experienced doctor sexual assault attorney can help you understand your options and help you create a plan to move forward. They can advise you about the criminal reporting process and, if you choose to file a lawsuit against Thompson or related associates, represent you throughout the entire process. Having legal representation allows you to focus on healing while an attorney fights for you and the dozens of other victims of Thompson.
An experienced doctor sexual assault attorney can help by:
- Investigating and gathering evidence of the assault
- Reporting the incident to law enforcement if this has not yet been done
- Filing a sexual assault lawsuit against Thompson, Hoag, and others who enabled the doctor sexual assault
- Handling all communications related to the case, including with attorneys representing Thompson and the courts
- Handling discovery, if necessary, which may include deposition testimony obtained from you and other witnesses
- Negotiating with representatives for a possible settlement
- Filing the claim under seal or as a “John Doe” to help protect your confidentiality
- Representing you in court
If you have questions about this process or want to speak with an attorney, Helping Survivors is here to help. We can answer your questions and connect you with a local attorney who can help you on your path toward healing.
Can I File a Lawsuit Against Dr. William Thompson?
The only way to know if you are eligible to file a lawsuit against Thompson and associates is to speak to a lawyer.
An experienced attorney who handles these cases will meet with you to discuss what happened, what justice means to you, and explain the process of filing a doctor sexual assault lawsuit. However, the statute of limitations for your jurisdiction sets a deadline for filing a civil lawsuit. Thus, speaking to a lawyer as soon as possible is critical.
It should not cost money to speak to a lawyer about your case. If the law firm accepts your case, pursuing a claim will not cost anything upfront. Trusted and experienced law firms like the ones we work with typically take these cases on a contingency basis, meaning the law firm only receives compensation if and when you win the case. The attorney’s fee would be a pre-agreed percentage of your recovery.
We can connect you with someone today so you can take the next step in moving forward.
Want To Speak With A Lawyer?
