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A former Conway surgeon already facing serious charges for the alleged rape and sexual assault of one patient during a procedure at Baptist Health Medical Center-Conway has been hit with additional charges after a second former patient came forward alleging she was sexually assaulted while sedated and hospitalized under his care.
Guy Peeples is the Former Conway Arkansas Surgeon Accused of Raping and Sexually Assaulting Patients who remains held at the Faulkner County Detention Center on a $5 million bond following his initial arrest in November 2025. The new charges — rape and three counts of second-degree sexual assault — were filed after a second alleged victim came forward and reported that Peeples allegedly assaulted her while she was sedated during a hospital stay in 2025. Peeples surrendered his license to practice medicine to the state medical board shortly after his November 2025 arrest.
According to the warrant affidavit, the second alleged victim had been under Peeples' care for an appendix removal. Following surgical complications — which required a second surgeon to perform two corrective procedures — the alleged victim was sedated in her hospital room. She told investigators she specifically recalled being assaulted by Peeples during her hospital stay, including being touched in areas of her body unrelated to her surgery, and waking up with her hospital gown removed and her body exposed.
The alleged victim told investigators that while under the second doctor's care she had no recollection of similar experiences. She stated she had initially dismissed her recollections as a side effect of medication — until news of Peeples' November 2025 arrest led her to realize what she had experienced may not have been a dream.
The detective who completed the affidavit noted that the alleged victim had to stop several times to collect herself while recounting her experience.
The factual information above was sourced from kark.com and arkansasonline.com as of June 3, 2026. The attorney commentary below is not specifically about the case reported above. Attorney commentary provided is information about these types of cases in the justice system.
When a patient is allegedly sexually assaulted by a surgeon or medical provider while under sedation or medical care, families and survivors may have significant civil legal options beyond the criminal process. Legal Herald editor Paul Amess spoke with Arkansas sexual abuse attorney Joshua Gillespie about the civil legal avenues that may be available to survivors in cases involving alleged sexual assault by a medical professional.
Paul Amess: Joshua, when a patient is allegedly sexually assaulted by a surgeon or doctor while sedated or under medical care, what civil legal options may be available?
Joshua Gillespie: Cases involving the alleged sexual assault of a sedated or incapacitated patient by a medical provider are among the most serious civil matters we handle. Patients in a medical setting are in an extraordinarily vulnerable position, and the duty of care owed to them is among the highest recognized by law. Survivors may have civil claims not only against the individual accused but also against the hospital or medical facility. Healthcare institutions have obligations to supervise their medical staff, investigate complaints, and protect patients from harm. A failure at any of those levels can expose the institution to significant civil liability.
Paul Amess: In cases where multiple alleged victims come forward against the same medical provider, what does that mean for the civil legal landscape?
Joshua Gillespie: When multiple alleged victims come forward against the same provider, it can significantly strengthen civil claims and broaden questions about institutional accountability. It raises important questions about whether the hospital or facility had any knowledge of prior complaints or warning signs and whether adequate oversight was in place. Each alleged victim may have independent civil claims, and an experienced attorney can help each individual understand what options are available to them specifically.
Paul Amess: What would you say to a patient in Arkansas who suspects they may have been assaulted while under medical sedation?
Joshua Gillespie: Please speak with an experienced attorney as soon as possible. Survivors of medical sexual abuse often struggle with uncertainty about what happened, especially when sedation was involved. An attorney can help evaluate the circumstances, explain what legal options may be available, and guide the survivor through the process in a completely confidential and no-cost initial consultation.
If you or someone you love was allegedly sexually assaulted or abused by a medical provider, surgeon, or any healthcare professional in Arkansas, you may have the right to pursue civil action and recover financial compensation. Contact The Legal Herald today to be connected with an experienced Arkansas sexual abuse attorney for a free, no-obligation consultation.
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