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According to York Daily Record, 46-year-old Dr. Shubhra Ray is accused of sexually assaulting two patients during exams at WellSpan Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine located at 2350 Freedom Way, York, PA 17402.
The police interviewed the first victim on February 22, 2019. She had been a patient at the clinic since 2014. On March 8, 2018, the incident involved Ray requesting that she remove her bra during an exam of a lump on her collar bone. He then proceeded to do a full breast exam that included lifting and pinching her nipples. During the same exam, the victim complained of her right ankle and foot swelling. The victim alleged that Ray insisted that she remove her pants and lay down. She went on to accuse him of inserting two of his bare fingers in her vagina.
The victim told one of the clinic's employees several months later, who recommended she report it. During the next exam, the employee she confided in stayed in the room for the entire visit. No clothing was removed during the exam, and the victim was reported to be uneasy and surprised by her escort. The victim spoke with two of the clinic's officials but felt that the report was not taken seriously.
The second victim went to the police on March 5, 2019. She was also instructed to move her shirt and bra during an exam on September 25, 2018. Ray allegedly groped her breast before having her lie exposed for a duration of around five minutes. The victim reported the incident to the clinic's officials a few days later. Despite the official's plea to resolve it between them, the victim went to the Pennsylvania Department of State and filed a complaint.
Ray is facing charges of aggravated indecent assault and two counts of indecent assault.
Brian Kent, our attorney contributor, is an experienced sexual abuse attorney that has represented numerous victims in civil lawsuits. During an interview, Brian provided commentary on the legal rights of victims sexually abused by a doctor.
"Patients put a level of trust in their doctors and expect medical professionals to respect them while carrying themselves in a professional manner. Unfortunately, some doctors abuse their positions of power and trust with their patients and exploit them sexually. These doctors take advantage of their patients’ vulnerability in order to abuse and assault. However, the justice system ensures these medical professionals can be held accountable for their misconduct. These victims should know their legal options to get justice.”
“Medical facilities have a legal duty to uphold the safety of their patients and staff. Sexual misconduct by medical professionals is often the result of negligence. In some cases, the professional’s employer may be considered negligent if they fail to prevent sexual abuse. For example, if previous misconduct complaints were filed against a doctor or medical professional yet, they were still permitted to examine patients. In negligence cases like these, victims may have grounds to file a lawsuit and could even receive compensation for their abuse.”
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