Here’s a chilling news report on problems with emergency medical technicians sexually abusing patients.  As with any profession, it’s easy to look away or bury sexual abuse allegations. It’s simply too sick and painful to think that an ambulance attendant would use the cover of medical care and an incapacitated patient for sexual gratification.

Kudos and appreciation to my pal, Portland attorney Greg Kafoury, who is quoted in the article, for taking on these cases. I’ve handled medical profession sex abuse cases. Rather than saying “thank you” some members of the medical community sometimes shun lawyers who handle these hard cases.  Kafoury isn’t someone to be deterred, so any opposition isn’t something that will get in his way.

As for the victims, I can imagine only few things worse. Patients are helpless when we enter the system. “No” doesn’t work when you’re strapped to a gurney, sedated, injured or otherwise in pain. Patient molestation does great violence to the medical system but that’s nothing compared to the violence done to the victims.

For sex abuse victims, the civil justice system can provide a means of getting back to solid land. To feel some measure of vendication and to make a molester face consequences sometimes helps the victim back to healing.

David Sugerman

Tags: civil justice system, sex abuse