Darius Paduch Sexual Abuse Lawsuits

Recently, dozens of victims have come forward to file legal claims of sexual abuse against urologist Dr. Darius Paduch. He worked at NewYork-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center and Northwell Health for years but was arrested on April 11, 2023, by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) after he was indicted by a grand jury on four counts of unlawful sexual activity.

The sexual abuse lawyers at Chaffin Luhana are currently examining cases in which patients treated by Dr. Paduch were sexually violated and/or abused. Call our experienced attorneys to schedule a complimentary consultation at 1-888-480-1123.

Who is Darius Paduch?

Dr. Paduch worked in New York as a practicing urologist, specializing in male infertility and reproductive health, from about 2003 through 2023. He started at NewYork-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center and then in 2019, moved to Northwell Health in Long Island.

According to the indictment, from at least 2015 through 2019, Paduch “enticed and induced multiple victims to travel to his medical offices” so he could, among other things, sexually abuse and assault them. After he moved to Northwell Health in 2019, he continued his abusive activities there.

The indictment further notes that Dr. Paduch used his position as a urologist at prominent medical institutions to make his victims believe that his abuse and assault were medically necessary and appropriate. He often directed his patients to schedule follow-up visits. As a result, many victims were abused multiple times over several years.

“He kind of convinced me to masturbate in front of him,” said plaintiff Tucker Coburn, “and he also touched me inappropriately and pressed himself against me to express his sexual interest.”

Coburn alleges the abuse started in 2018 when he was an 18-year-old patient. He filed a police report concerning Paduch in 2020 but was told the statute of limitations had passed. (This is the amount of time that New York typically allows a victim to file charges against an alleged sexual abuser.)

“I’ve spent a long time questioning my body,” Coburn said, “whether there was something wrong with me or if I did something to produce that reaction from my doctor. I couldn’t trust my own judgment.”

Now that Paduch has been arrested, Coburn says he hopes the doctor is criminally charged and put behind bars: “That’s where he belongs.”

Paduch abused minor patients as well. The grand jury indictment details the stories of two victims under the age of 18, both of whom were repeatedly abused when their parents were out of the examination room.

One victim who was a minor at the time of the abuse reported that the doctor exposed him to pornography and performed sexual acts on him. He did the same to another minor victim, abusing him only when his parents weren’t in the examination room.

Paduch is facing criminal prosecution and up to 60 years in prison. He pled not guilty to the charges. A trial is set for late 2023.

Meanwhile, dozens of patients have now come forward to file civil lawsuits against Paduch and the medical centers he worked for.

Medical Centers Failed to Protect Patients

It’s not just Dr. Paduch who is under fire for allegedly abusing his patients. The medical centers he worked for, too, allowed the abuse to go on for years without taking the appropriate action.

According to Coburn’s sexual abuse lawsuit, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital was aware of complaints against Dr. Paduch long before he was arrested. In January 2017, a nurse asked if Coburn would speak to another patient who was also abused, suggesting she believed both patients had endured similar abuse.

In 2018, one of Paduch’s former patients notified the New York Health Department about alleged misconduct that closely mirrors the type of abuse detailed in the federal indictment. The abuse reportedly took place in 2006 and 2007 and included claims that Paduch required the patient to masturbate in front of him. Yet the formal complaint failed to result in any disciplinary action.

In September 2020, Coburn wrote to the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital to tell them about the abuse and that he had reported it to the police. Hospital management didn’t even respond.

On April 2023, when Paduch was arrested, Northwell Health sent a letter to patients notifying them that the doctor was “no longer a Northwell Health Physician Partners urologist…” The letter suggested patients call the practice to schedule appointments with other urologist providers, but said nothing about the sexual abuse findings.

Records Show a Possible Pattern of Ignoring Abuse

Medical professionals are required by law to report any professional misconduct of their colleagues to the State Licensing agency. Unfortunately, hospitals and medical clinics are often more concerned about maintaining a façade of safety than truly protecting their patients. Rather than revealing the truth, they transfer the predator to another location or urge them to resign.

Patients trust that when they visit a prestigious medical center like NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital or Northwell Health, they will be treated with care and dignity. They trust that the management will look out for their safety and well-being. Instead, they are being victimized and traumatized not only at these locations but at Columbia University as well.

Recently, former Columbia University OBGYN Robert Hadden was criminally convicted of sexually abusing multiple patients during medical appointments. According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Hadden was sentenced to 20 years in prison for “enticing and inducing four victims to travel interstate to engage in unlawful sexual activity.”

New York-Presbyterian Hospital is affiliated with Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. The administrators are not doing enough to protect patients at their medical facilities from falling victim to sexual predators.

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC), New York has only a “61” rating (out of a possible 100) when it comes to protecting patients from sexually abusive doctors.

Sexual Abuse Lawsuits Against Paduch

Back in December 2022, a male plaintiff who was both Paduch’s patient and his intern filed a lawsuit against the doctor claiming he was abused multiple times from September 2015 through July 2017. He was 16 years old when he started the internship. The plaintiff also named New York-Presbyterian Hospital as a defendant.

That lawsuit was only the beginning. Many more followed, including Coburn’s. As of May 2023, there were over 30 lawsuits filed with all plaintiffs alleging similar abuse by Dr. Paduch. As awareness increases of Paduch’s indictment, it is expected that more claims will follow.

Potential Sexual Abuse Injuries

Victims of sexual abuse may suffer from the following injuries. Those who were abused as children are even more susceptible to neurological damage.

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Flashbacks
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Dissociation
• Panic attacks
• Substance abuse
• Disordered sleep
• Sexual dysfunction

Paduch Sexual Abuse Lawsuits

If you believe you were sexually abused or assaulted by Dr. Paduch, talk to a sexual abuse attorney right away. You may be eligible to file a lawsuit. Call our experienced attorneys to schedule a complimentary consultation at 1-888-480-1123.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Did Darius Paduch Do?

Dr. Darius Paduch betrayed the trust of his patients by sexually abusing them during medical appointments. He has been criminally charged and convicted and is likely to face jail time. He is also a defendant in dozens of civil lawsuits filed by victims.

I was a patient of Dr. Paduch’s. Should I file a lawsuit?

Dr. Paduch abused his patients under the guise of giving them needed and appropriate care. As patients don’t know what sort of treatments they may need, they are often misled into believing that the doctor is providing the diagnosis or treatment they need.

Victims often feel uncomfortable, but unsure whether they should say anything. Your best bet is to talk to a sexual abuse attorney today. He or she can help you determine whether you may be eligible to file a lawsuit.

How long do I have to file a lawsuit against Darius Paduch?

In May 2022, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law the New York Adult Survivors Act. It created a one-year lookback window for survivors of sexual assault that occurred when they were over the age of 18 to sue their abusers regardless of when the abuse occurred. The window began six months after the signing.

In 2019, New York extended the statute of limitations to 20 years for adults filing civil lawsuits for a select number of sex crimes. However, that legislation only affected new cases and was not retroactive.

With these laws in place, here are the guidelines when it comes to suing Dr. Paduch and the medical centers he worked for:

• If the abuse occurred after 2018, or if the victim was under the age of 21 as of February 14, 2018, the victim has until the age of 55 to file a lawsuit.
• If the abuse took place before 2018 or if the victim is over 21 as of February 14, 2018, he or she must file a lawsuit by November 23, 2023.

I don’t want to reveal my identity. Can I file a lawsuit anonymously?

If you decide to file a sexual abuse lawsuit, you can request to remain anonymous. New York law typically allows attorneys to file lawsuits on behalf of their clients using a pseudonym. Talk to your sexual abuse attorney about the details.