Dr Fabio Ortega And Northshore University Facing Sexual Assault Lawsuits

Personal Injury - February 24, 2024

NorthShore University Health System/Swedish Covenant Hospital Is Facing Lawsuits For The Actions of Prominent Chicago OB/GYN Dr. Fabio Ortega

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (February 24, 2024) – The NorthShore University Health System is facing a series of lawsuits following allegations of misconduct by Dr Fabio Ortega.

The lawsuits come after the Chicago gynecologist pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting two female patients. He was sentenced to three years at the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Dr Fabio Ortega is facing other lawsuits by women who said that they were sexually abused by him. Attorneys for the plaintiffs have said that NorthShore and Swedish value profits over the safety of their patients.

A full investigation into all of the allegations remains ongoing at this time.

Liability For Sexual Assaults Involving Medical Doctors

Sexual abuse by medical doctors is sadly much more common than many may realize. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “After analyzing more than 100,000 medical board documents, the AJC found that more than 3,100 doctors had faced public accusations of sexual misconduct from 1999 to 2015. The investigation also revealed a broken regulatory system that too often shielded doctors from accountability.” The true extent of the abuse remains largely unknown. There are a number of steps hospitals should take in order to protect patients from sexual abuse.

• Hospitals should have clear and comprehensive policies regarding sexual misconduct.
• Hospitals should provide all of their employees with periodic training on how to recognize, prevent, and report sexual abuse.
• Hospitals should create a safe environment where patients and employees can report misconduct without fear of retaliation.
• Hospitals should perform background checks on all of their employees.

It is illegal for any physician or hospital employee to engage in any type of sexual abuse or inappropriate touching of patients. A large portion of the sexual abuse that takes place in medicine occurs under the pretense of needed patient care. This could include instances where a patient is touched or sexually penetrated by an object when it is not medically necessary.

Depending on the facts of any case, a hospital could be liable if one of their doctors sexually abuses a patient. Sexual abuse claims against hospitals are typically pursued on the basis that a doctor was either negligently hired or supervised. If a hospital knew or should have known that a doctor was a risk to patients and failed to act, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. There are a number of elements that must be demonstrated in any negligent hiring claim against a hospital.

• The doctor was not fit to perform their duties.
• The doctor’s employer knew (or should have known) that a certain doctor’s presence at a hospital puts patients at risk.
• The doctor’s lack of fitness was the proximate cause of the harm to their patients.
• The hospital’s negligent hiring, supervision, or training of the doctor played a significant role in that harm.

Sexual abuse is one of the most harmful and traumatic events that most people will ever go through. It cuts at the very core of a person’s wellbeing and sense of safety. Sadly, though, hospitals will often turn a blind eye to the misconduct of their physicians. By the time any doctor is arrested for sexual misconduct, there are likely dozens of red flags that were missed. A Chicago sexual abuse attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.

Investigating Sexual Assault By Medical Doctors

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to all the women who have been impacted by the actions of Dr Fabio Ortega. It is our sincere hope that NorthShore University Health System and Swedish Covenant Hospital take concrete measures to prevent this from happening again. Accountability at all levels is desperately needed.

Have you or someone that you care about been the victim of sexual abuse by a Chicago medical doctor? You may have legal recourse. Our team of sexual abuse attorneys is here to help you. We care deeply that abuse victims are aware of their rights and that hospitals are held accountable for their negligence. Whether you have legal questions or need any type of support, we may be able to help you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.