An obstetrician at Pasadena, Calif.-based Huntington Hospital was removed from his leadership role in the facility's obstetrics and gynecology department after officials were made aware of several sexual misconduct allegations against him, a Huntington Hospital spokesperson confirmed to the Pasadena Star-News.
The spokesperson confirmed Patrick Sutton, MD, has agreed to have a chaperone present while providing care to his private patients at the hospital. He is also no longer on the hospital's OB call list, meaning he will not be on call to help patients who go into labor and do not already have an OB-GYN.
"These changes are effective immediately as we await the results of further review by the Medical Board of California and our medical staff," the spokesperson told the Pasadena Star-News.
The most recent complaint was filed against Dr. Sutton on Sept. 24 by the medical board. The complaint stemmed from a Feb. 3, 2016, incident during which Dr. Sutton allegedly examined a patient while a nurse was present and made remarks about the patient's body. After the nurse left to answer a phone call, he allegedly asked the patient if she experienced orgasms, the report states.
Dr. Sutton has 15 days to respond to the medical board's Sept. 24 complaint.
The state medical board has received at least two other complaints against Dr. Sutton in 1998 and 2008, both alleging sexual misconduct. In both cases, Dr. Sutton entered into an agreement with the medical board and successfully completed his probation.
Two other women alleged sexual harassment against Dr. Sutton in another Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit filed in 2005, when he was on probation. The lawsuit was settled out of court, according to the report.
The Huntington Hospital spokesperson told the Pasadena Star-News the hospital's medical staff is reviewing the complaints, and that the results of the peer-review proceedings will not be made public.
To access the full report, click here.