The bond of trust between a doctor and their patient is one that should never be broken. However, many patients in Florida and the rest of the country have had to come forward to expose shocking abuses. The United States Supreme Court has recently had to rule on such a matter. This involved many acts of abuse committed by the late physician Richard Strauss.
Legal decisions enable suits to move forward
Sexual abuse by doctors is, sadly, a recurring them in the legal world. The recent Supreme Court decision has paved the way for a group of over 230 former male student victims to continue to sue Ohio State University. This was the place where the abusive acts of Richard Strauss took place. But this is only one of the many decisions that are currently pending.
Strauss worked at OSU from 1978 to 1998. During that time, he committed hundreds of acts of abuse. An investigation launched by authorities only commenced in 2018, 13 years after his suicide. Settlements totaling $60 million have been reached with a total of 296 people. Despite this, more suits involving other victims are being planned.
What can be done to report abuse?
There are several steps that you can take to report abuse. The first thing you should do is to report the abuse directly to the police. You may need to go to a hospital in order to have a rape kit prepared. This will be especially crucial if you decide to press charges.
You should also report the abuse to the facility where the doctor works. If you decide to press charges against them, they will be reported to the state medical board. The facility will have procedures in place to deal with your charges. Taking these steps can help you begin your own process of healing.