Steps to Take if You Have Been Sexually Assaulted by Your Doctor

Sexual assault, in any form and by anyone, is a horrible experience. You can feel particularly betrayed when your assaulter is the one person to whom you have trusted your physical well-being: your physician. After the initial shock wanes, it is important to know what to do to stop this doctor from assaulting anyone else, and what to expect during the process.

It is extremely important to go to the police. You will be asked to sit down and write a detailed account of what happened to you. Make sure to do this as soon as possible, before you forget any details. Once a detective is assigned to the case, you will also meet with him or her to discuss your experience.

After you file a report, it takes time to do the research necessary to make an arrest. You may be asked to be interviewed by doctors that are police consultants. They will give the police an idea of what should have happened during the course of the appointment, help the police determine what charges should be filed, and will likely testify in court.

Be prepared to testify in two separate trials: one in front of a medical board which decides if the doctor will lose or retain his medical license, and a criminal trial in front of a judge and jury. Both processes will require meeting with lawyers and prosecutors ahead of time, as well as giving depositions.

What should you expect after going forward?

The entire process will take you on an emotional rollercoaster ride. You can go for weeks without hearing of developments and begin to lose hope. Then other women may begin to come forward saying it happened to them too, which brings relief. Confiding to a friend is helpful in getting through all the legalities of the process, and seeking professional counseling can begin to heal the emotional pain of the assault itself.

Expect many people to not believe you. On several occasions I encountered people outside the courthouse with signs in support of this doctor, and who called me names. I suspect there were a few of my friends who were in disbelief as well.