Clermont, Florida acupuncturist Matthew Johnson has been arrested on charges he sexually battered a 16-year old female patient during an acupuncture procedure. According to law enforcement records, Matthew David Johnson allegedly placed his fingers in his teenage patient’s vagina and then forcibly put his mouth on her vagina to perform oral sex. The Florida Department of Health issued an Emergency Order on January 29, 2019 on account of this alleged incident. According to the Order, “Mr. Johnson’s continued practice as an acupuncturist constitutes an immediate, serious danger to the health, safety, or welfare of the citizens of the State of Florida, and this summary procedure is fair under the circumstances to adequately protect the public.”
Johnson is an acupuncturist renting space at One Yoga and Fitness in Clermont, where the molestation allegedly occurred. The teenage girl had been a patient of the Dr. Johnson for a few weeks but this was the first time he violated her according to police records. Matthew Johnson, age 48, has been a licensed acupuncturist in the State of Florida since 2011. He was arrested by the Clermont Police Department on a felony charge at his home in Groveland on October 31, 2018. Police records say Johnson had a prior arrest for sexual battery on victim under 12 years old and a kidnapping charge.
In a national investigation, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution examined documents that described disturbing acts of physician sexual abuse in every state. Rapes by OB/GYNs, seductions by psychiatrists, fondling by anesthesiologists and ophthalmologists, and molestations by pediatricians and radiologists. Victims included babies, adolescents, senior citizens, drug addicts, and jail inmates. But it could be anyone. Some patients were sedated when they were sexually assaulted. Others didn’t realize at first what had happened because the doctor improperly touched them or photographed them while pretending to do a legitimate medical exam. Too often hospitals and health care organizations will brush off accusations or quietly push doctors out, the investigation found, without reporting them to police or licensing agencies. We commend this alleged victim for having the courage to come forward.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted by a physician or at a doctor’s office or hospital, it is important to have a lawyer experienced in these matters. We are experienced in handling cases involving sexual assault by doctors and other medical personnel. If you have a been a victim of sexual assault by a doctor in a hospital or medical office, or if you know someone who has, please contact our law firm at (954) 641-2100 or send an email to sexual abuse lawyer Adam Horowitz at [email protected]