Doctor arrested for allegedly forcing himself on patient
SUNNYVALE >> A Bay Area doctor has been arrested on accusations that he physically forced himself on a woman he once treated as a patient, with her alleging that he repeatedly ignored her rejections of his romantic advances and held her down to kiss her, authorities said.
The woman told investigators that she came forward “out of concern for other potential victims,” according to a Monday news release issued by the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety.
Todd Yao, 50, was arrested July 8 on suspicion of sexual battery for alleged conduct that began last November, police said.
According to the police investigation, the woman was treated by Yao at an urgentcare clinic in Mountain View operated by Sutter Health, and that the two became friends. But the woman told detectives that over the next few months, Yao made unwelcome “romantic advances” at her Sunnyvale home.
“On three separate occasions, Yao forced himself on the victim by pushing her down, straddling her and forcibly kissing her on the lips,” the news release reads.
Police added that the woman was initially reluctant to report the encounters “due to Yao’s social status as a medical doctor,” but later changed her mind to prevent him from assaulting other women.
Along those lines, Sunnyvale investigators are exploring the possibility of additional victims, and ask that anyone with information about other misconduct by Yao contact Detective Mary Cayori at 408-7307122.