A urologist who practiced at prominent New York City hospitals was arrested April 11 on allegations of yearslong sexual abuse of patients.
A four-count indictment charges Darius Paduch, MD, with inducement of a person to travel to engage in unlawful sexual activity and inducement of a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity.
The indictment, unsealed April 11 in Manhattan federal court, alleges that Dr. Paduch sexually abused multiple male patients, including minor male patients, while conducting purported urological exams while employed by two "prestigious" and "prominent" medical institutions in New York City, which were not named in the news release issued by the U.S. attorney's office. The abuse occurred from 2015 through 2019. Dr. Paduch worked at one institution before moving to the second in 2019, where the abuse continued, according to the news release.
The urologist used his position to make or attempt to make the victims believe that the sexual abuse he inflicted on them was medically necessary and appropriate, and directed the victims to schedule follow-up visits, according to the U.S. attorney's office. As a result, some of the victims attended numerous appointments with Dr. Paduch over the course of multiple years, at which they were repeatedly abused, the U.S. attorney's office claims.
The sentences for the charges against Dr. Paduch range from decades to life in prison. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams.