Presbyterian, ex-doctor face 2 more lawsuits
Pediatric urologist accused of sexually assaulting young patients in his care
Two additional families filed civil lawsuits earlier this month against Presbyterian Healthcare Services and a former doctor over a series of alleged sexual assaults and child pornography crimes that were committed against patients under his care.
Guy Rosenschein, who had been a pediatric urologist at Presbyterian from 2012 until his arrest in November 2016, is in federal custody awaiting a criminal trial. His former specialty, urology, includes reproductive organs.
A superseding indictment handed up in June charges Rosenschein with 15 counts of possession and distribution of visual depictions of minors engaged in sexual conduct. Some of the materials were found inside safes in a “secret room” in the doctor’s Albuquerque home, according to federal court documents.
After his arrest, numerous families of children whom he cared for have brought lawsuits against Rosenschein and his former employer.
Adam Funk, an attorney with the Potts Law Firm, has filed 12 lawsuits on behalf of 12 families who had children in Rosenschein’s care. He said there is also a class action lawsuit brought on behalf of other families and a handful of other lawsuits that have been filed in connection with Rosenschein.
“By our estimation, he probably saw dozens if not hundreds of patients each week,” Funk said.
On Aug. 3, Funk filed two additional lawsuits in state District Court. One was on behalf of a girl Rosenschein treated for an inguinal hernia in April 2014 when she was 7. The complaint says that the doctor photographed the child’s genitals and had tried to examine the child without her mother present.
The other lawsuit was on behalf of a boy whom
Rosenschein treated for dysuria in August 2016 when the boy was 7. The complaint alleges Rosenschein touched and photographed the boy’s genitals.
Both lawsuits are seeking damages from the defendants.
Funk said parents believe their children were assaulted because Rosenschein would ask to photograph them, routinely asked parents to leave the examination rooms, or treated or performed surgeries on patients that went on for much longer than anticipated.
Marc Lowery, Rosenschein’s attorney in the criminal case, could not be reached for comment Tuesday. Rosenschein has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
Another one of his attorneys previously told the Journal that the charges against him were “baseless hysteria” and that the only images the doctor had were for clinical purposes.
“As a nonprofit organization with deep roots in our community, Presbyterian is committed to safe, quality care for our patients,” said Melanie Mozes, a spokeswoman for Presbyterian. “We continue to work closely with law enforcement regarding their ongoing investigation of this physician and reserve comment on legal proceedings for the appropriate venue.”
Presbyterian started a hotline after Rosenschein’s arrest for former patients or their families to raise concerns.
Funk said that Rosenschein no longer has a license to practice medicine.