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An obstetrician-gynecologist in Corpus Christi is still seeing patients, even after being indicted on three counts of felony sexual assault. Authorities say that Dr. Juan Villarreal sexually assaulted three patients during routine exams at his offices.
According to police and court documents, Villarreal was indicted on these charges in October 2018. He was arrested on December 17 after failing to appear in court and released the next day.
The alleged assaults took place in November 2015, June 2016, and February 2018. In all three incidents, Villarreal is accused of intentionally or knowingly causing the physical penetration of the victims' sex organs with his finger. The assaults involve three different women. In the most recent reported assault, the victim was a woman who had been a patient of Villarreal for over 20 years.
Dr. Juan Villarreal is currently out on bond and permitted to work as part of his bond conditions. He still has an active medical license.
Attorney contributor Anjali Nigam specializes in helping survivors of sexual violence fight for justice in civil court. We've asked him to discuss the legal options available to those who have been sexually assaulted by doctors and other medical professionals:
We all look to doctors and medical professionals as trusted members of our communities who we can rely on to provide us with the highest standard of medical care. But unfortunately, not all medical professionals are worthy of their community's trust. Sexual assault by doctors is a nationwide problem, with a minority of these medical professionals abusing their positions of trust in order to sexually assault their patients.
In cases of doctor sexual assault, there are many concerns to address. The police must investigate the case, the doctor must be evaluated by the medical board, and the victim must get the support they deserve. In many cases, the victims may have grounds for a lawsuit against the doctor and/or the medical facility where the assaults occurred.
If you or a loved one has been sexually assaulted by a medical professional, you can find justice for the trauma your family has suffered. Consider speaking to one of our experienced sexual assault survivors attorneys to learn more about your family's legal options.
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