Johns Hopkins Hospital Sexual Abuse
If you or someone you know has experienced doctor sexual abuse at a Johns Hopkins hospital, you have rights and options, including reporting to the medical oversight board or filing a Johns Hopkins Hospital sexual abuse lawsuit.
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Author: Kathryn Kosmides
Survivor Advocate
Key Takeaways
- Johns Hopkins is one of the largest medical institutions in the United States, employing over 1,700 doctors and 30,000 staff members across its various locations.
- Johns Hopkins has been embroiled in several high-profile cases of doctor misconduct and doctor sexual assault, including the case against Dr. Nikita Levy and the recent documentary “Take Care of Maya.” Both resulted in large payouts to the victims impacted.
- If you have experienced doctor sexual abuse by a Johns Hopkins doctor, you may be able to file a Johns Hopkins Hospital sexual abuse lawsuit against the institution and the perpetrator—learn more below.
Johns Hopkins Hospital Abuse Allegations: Overview & History
Founded in 1889, the Johns Hopkins Hospital is a teaching hospital affiliated with the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. It is considered one of the original medical institutions in the United States.
Johns Hopkins Hospital and the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center are located in Baltimore, Maryland, and employ over 1,7000 doctors and 30,000 staff. An estimated 80,000 people visit the medical campus every week.
Johns Hopkins Hospital locations include the following:
- The Johns Hopkins Hospital
- Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center
- Johns Hopkins Outpatient Center
- Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center
- Sibley Memorial Hospital
- Suburban Hospital
- Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital
While Johns Hopkins Hospital consistently ranks as one of the top hospitals in the United States, the institution has also faced a series of doctor sexual abuse lawsuits and allegations over the years.
Additionally, nine rapes and five cases of stalking were reported in 2021 in the residence halls at Johns Hopkins University’s Homewood campus. The increase in reported incidents of rape and stalking came after criticism from sexual assault survivors earlier in the year, who claimed the university did not provide adequate support. Also that year, a student protest objected to the school’s handling of an alleged drugging incident at a fraternity.
- 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
What is Medical & Doctor Sexual Assault and Abuse?
Some examples of doctor sexual abuse reported at Johns Hopkins Hospital and other medical institutions include the following:
- Inappropriate touching
- Inappropriate sexual comments
- Voyeurism, including recording patients without their knowledge or consent
- Indecent exposure, such as forcing victims to themselves and medical professionals exposing themselves
- Groping, fondling, and molestation
- Masturbating in front of patients
- Rape, including when patients are under sedation for medical procedures
- Other forms of sexual assault
Doctor sexual abuse can be hard to label and identify when it occurs for a variety of reasons, including the inherent trust in medical professionals, a lack of knowledge about what is appropriate medical care, and a lack of knowledge about whether procedures are necessary and if they should hurt.
Johns Hopkins’ website states that its Corporate Compliance Department receives approximately 400 reports every year from employees with serious concerns about illegal or unethical behavior in the workplace.
Over the last few years, hundreds of survivors of doctor sexual abuse have come forward and filed lawsuits over assaults by dozens of doctors around the country, including Dr. David Broadbent, Dr. Edsel Sandoval, Dr. Tyler Hurst, and Dr. Zhi Alan Cheng. Meanwhile, the high-profile cases against Dr. Larry Nasar and Dr. Robert Hadden have received considerable headlines.
If you or someone you know experienced sexual abuse by a Johns Hopkins doctor or other staff member, you have legal rights and options to seek help and healing.
Helping Survivors provides this resource to help you understand your options. However, if you have experienced sexual abuse at a Johns Hopkins Hospital, we recommend contacting us as soon as possible to get personalized information specific to your situation.
We are here to listen and advocate for you.
Reporting Medical Sexual Misconduct to Johns Hopkins
Before making any reporting decisions, we highly recommend you write down everything you can remember, including dates, times, those involved, what happened in your own words, any potential evidence or witnesses, and if you told anyone immediately following the incident.
From there, you might consider reporting the medical misconduct to the hospital itself.
While Johns Hopkins Hospitals do not have an explicit form or way to contact them regarding medical sexual abuse, they do have a patient feedback page on their website. This page directs patients on how to report general feedback at each of their locations.
If the abuse occurred in a private practice associated with Johns Hopkins, you may need to report the incident directly to the state medical board. Additionally, you may want to file a report with the state medical licensing board, The Maryland Board of Physicians, that oversees doctors and health care professionals in Maryland.
We highly recommend filing your initial complaint in written form and keeping a copy of the report for your records, such as a screenshot of your report before filing or a screen recording of you submitting the report. If contacted by phone, consider asking to record the conversation, but written forms of communication are preferable. This documentation can help create a record of your report and the actions taken, which may be useful if you decide to file a police report or a lawsuit in the future.
Additionally, we highly recommend contacting an organization like Helping Survivors before filing a report. We can connect with an experienced doctor sexual abuse lawyer who can assist you with this process and protect your rights throughout.
Filing a Johns Hopkins Doctor Sexual Abuse Lawsuit
If you have experienced doctor sexual abuse by a Johns Hopkins physician or other medical staff, you might be eligible to file a lawsuit and seek monetary compensation for the harm you endured.
The statute of limitations for filing a sexual abuse lawsuit is generally very limited in Maryland. Adult victims have just three years to file a lawsuit in the state.
Therefore, speaking with an experienced attorney as soon as possible is critical. Even if you are not sure you want to file a lawsuit or are not sure if what you experienced is doctor sexual abuse, reach out to us today.
Children who experience doctor sexual abuse in Maryland generally have longer to file suit under the recently enacted Maryland Child Victims Act.
Every law firm Helping Survivors works with offers free consultations for these types of cases. They also only work on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no upfront costs to speaking to a lawyer or filing a claim. The law firm will only get paid if and when you receive compensation.
Filing a Police Report Against a Johns Hopkins’ Doctor for Sexual Abuse
Medical professionals who sexually abuse patients can face criminal consequences, including imprisonment if convicted. Although many people do not report sexual abuse to law enforcement, we strongly encourage any patient who has experienced abuse by a doctor to do so.
To report abuse to law enforcement, you generally must visit the local police precinct in the jurisdiction where the abuse occurred. You may be able to call the precinct and schedule a time to come in or walk in. Regardless of when the abuse happened, law enforcement officers are legally required to take your report. It’s advisable to prepare before filing a police report by writing down what you remember, gathering any evidence, and, if possible, having someone accompany you for support.
However, law enforcement’s ability to prosecute the offense will depend on various factors, including the availability of evidence and Maryland’s criminal statute of limitations.
Even if the statute of limitations has passed, filing a report can create a valuable record for yourself and others who may come forward.
Can I File a Lawsuit Against Johns Hopkins for Doctor Sexual Abuse?
Yes, you may be entitled to file a lawsuit against Johns Hopkins, the individual medical professional, and their associates for doctor sexual abuse.
Eligibility to file a doctor sexual abuse lawsuit depends on a variety of factors, including the three-year statute of limitations for filing a claim in Maryland.
However, even if you experienced doctor sexual abuse years ago, you should still reach out to us today understand if you have a potential case. We can help evaluate your case and connect you with an experienced, trauma-informed doctor sexual abuse attorney today.
Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Johns Hopkins Hospital and Doctors
Over the last decade, several cases of sexual abuse at Johns Hopkins have been the subject of lawsuits and media reports.
While the cases discussed below have made headlines, dozens of other doctor sexual abuse cases have come to light over the last several years. Given that Johns Hopkins is one of the largest medical institutions in the country, other victims of doctor sexual abuse will likely come forward.
Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital - The Maya Kowalski Case
Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital is a pediatric acute care children’s hospital located in St. Petersburg, Florida. It is affiliated with both the University of South Florida’s Morsani College of Medicine and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
In a case covered by the June 2023 Netflix documentary “Take Care of Maya,” 10-year-old Maya Kowalski presented at All Children’s Hospital’s emergency department with symptoms of her previously diagnosed condition of complex regional pain syndrome, or CRPS.
Medical staff accused her parents of medical abuse and neglect and filed a report with the Florida child abuse hotline. They took custody of Maya, forcibly barring her from seeing her parents. She was held at the hospital for approximately three months and was unable to see her parents during this time while being subjected to a variety of tests.
After many months of not being able to see her child, Maya’s mother, Beata Kowalski, committed suicide.
In 2018, Maya’s father sued Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. In November 2023, a jury awarded the Kowalski family $261 million in compensatory and punitive damages, finding the hospital liable on all counts, including false imprisonment, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress on both Maya and her mother. In August 2024, attorneys for the hospital appealed the jury award as excessive. The appeal is still pending.
Meanwhile, shortly after the jury returned the verdict, Maya filed a criminal complaint with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s office against hospital staff alleging sexual abuse. The complaint accuses a hospital staff member of pulling down Maya’s pajamas and underwear and touching her private parts.
Dr. Nikita Levy
Dr. Nikita Levy was employed as a gynecologist at Johns Hopkins for 25 years. He was fired in February 2013 after a coworker spotted a pen-like camera worn around his neck. A subsequent federal investigation found 1,200 videos and 140 images of patients stored on computers at his home. Additionally, several former patients reported being inappropriately touched and verbally abused by Levy. Some alleged Levy regularly requested to see them for seemingly unnecessary pelvic exams.
Levy committed suicide a few days after being reported to the federal authorities and was never criminally prosecuted.
In February 2015, a judge approved a $190 million settlement with 8,000 former adult and minor female patients of Dr. Levy—one of the largest doctor sexual assault settlements ever reported.
Johns Hopkins & The Guatemala STD Study
In 2010, it was revealed that the U.S. government conducted medical experiments on women, children, and orphans in Guatemala from 1945 to 1956 that subsequently infected hundreds with sexually transmitted diseases, including syphilis and gonorrhea.
Since 2015, nearly 800 former research subjects infected with sexually transmitted diseases have pursued justice against Johns Hopkins University and others involved in the study. In 2019, a federal judge in Maryland refused to dismiss a $1 billion lawsuit against Johns Hopkins University, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., and the Rockefeller Foundation over their roles in the study.
The lawsuit alleges several Johns Hopkins and Rockefeller Foundation doctors participated in the experiments. Four executives from Bristol-Myers’ predecessors, Bristol Laboratories and the Squibb Institute, were also allegedly involved. Johns Hopkins and its affiliates deny their role in the experiment and are defending themselves against the claims.
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