Vulnerable patients violated in 50 states — yet doctors were forgiven


A MULTIMEDIA EXCLUSIVE

Today, the Springfield News-Sun and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution launch a special website to provide readers with a full digital presentation of this project. Visit springfieldnewssun.com to understand the problem and solutions, watch videos of compelling cases and learn more about how each state addresses physicians accused of sexual misconduct.

A groundbreaking national investigation into doctors and sex abuse was launched online today by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, a Cox-owned paper that shared its data with the Springfield News-Sun so we could conduct our own analysis of Ohio cases.

>>>RELATED: Broken system forgives sexually abusive doctors

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>>>RELATED: Find the entire AJC investigation.

The investigation found sexual improprieties and misconduct involving doctors of all types: psychiatrists seducing the emotionally fragile; urologists subjecting women to lewd remarks during intimate exams; family practitioners fondling minors; pain specialists exchanging prescriptions for intercourse; anesthesiologists molesting sedated patients; obstetricians raping patients who came to them for care.

The Journal-Constitution analyzed more than 100,000 public disciplinary records from all 50 states and found more than 2,400 doctors who were sanctioned after being accused of sexual misconduct involving patients. Of those, half still have active medical licenses today, the newspaper found. The full investigation is available at ajc.com/doctors.

In Ohio, the Springfield News-Sun found doctors in this region who are still practicing medicine even though they were sanctioned by medical boards here and in other states for improper conduct.

Starting today, Springfield News-Sun readers can find the national investigation online at springfieldnewssun.com, including a story on a former Wilmington doctor who now lives in Kettering and who was convicted of sexual abusing two female patients.

More installments will be made available on springfieldnewssun.com later this week and in print on Sunday and Monday.

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