A Texas physician who was allowed to continue practicing medicine despite 17 women accusing him of sexual misconduct, lost his license in June after a male patient came forward with similar claims, according to the Statesman.
Here are five things to know about the case:
1. Philip Leonard, MD, saw his license permanently revoked June 15 by the Texas Medical Board. The board found Dr. Leonard prescribed a patient controlled substances for nontherapeutic reasons and "engaged in sexually inappropriate behavior by inappropriately touching the patient during at least one office visit," the board said in its order.
2. Dr. Leonard was previously accused of sexual misconduct by at least 17 former female patients, including Cathryn Blue. Ms. Blue notified police hours after visiting Dr. Leonard for a back injury in August 2001. She said during the appointment, the neurologist touched her inappropriately in multiple ways.
3. Dr. Leonard was arrested for the incident, which reportedly motivated several other women to come forward with similar claims. Eight of those women testified against him at a public hearing before the Texas Medical Board. Dr. Leonard's medical license was temporarily suspended in March 2003. However, in December 2004, the board and Dr. Leonard entered into an agreement prohibiting the neurologist from treating female patients for 10 years. In December 2014, the restriction was lifted.
4. The board entered a new complaint against Dr. Leonard in August 2016. The complaint was made by a former male patient of Dr. Leonard's claiming the physician touched his genitals unnecessarily and continued violating sexual boundaries with him while the physician's medical license was suspended. The patient reported Dr. Leonard to the board twice in 2015, but the board did not file a complaint against the neurologist until the following year, the report states.
5. A Texas Medical Board spokesperson told the Statesman the agency had no comment beyond the information in its public orders. However, Ms. Blue told the publication the board should have acted sooner.
"The board should have stepped up earlier. They had a responsibility to protect the public. When so many women come forward, how can you not see a problem?" she said.
To access the full report, click here.