AP: Little Punishment for Doctors Accused of Sexual Misconduct
Tuesday, April 17, 2018 | 2
Politicians, celebrities and “elite journalists” have all lost their jobs amidst allegations of sexual misconduct, but doctors facing similar accusations more often receive at most only a short suspension, according to a report by the Associated Press.
The AP said it examined disciplinary records in states including California, Florida, Idaho and Arkansas and found numerous examples of doctors who continued practicing medicine after they were accused of inappropriate behavior with patients.
As an example, the AP Said Dr. Anthony Bianchi is treating occupational injuries at a clinic in Fresno despite allegations brought by three patients. The AP did not identify the name of the clinic, and the information is not available through the website for the California Medical Board.
Bianchi in 2014 entered into a settlement with the California Medical Board that included a 30-day suspension from practicing medicine. The medical board in 2016 issued a second decision — which is not accessible on its website — placing him on probation for five years starting June 16.
Bianchi is prohibited from running a solo practice, can’t treat female patients and must seek therapy, according to a summary of the 2016 disciplinary action on the board’s website.
The Texas Medical Board revoked Bianchi’s license in 2014, according to online records. But the Associated Press says the fact that he’s still allowed to practice in California shows how “the #MeToo campaign and the rapid push in recent months to increase accountability for sexual misconduct in American workplaces do not appear to have sparked a movement toward changing how medical boards deal with physicians who act out sexually against patients or staffers.”
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