North Carolina Doctor Charged with Sexual Abuse
Author: Auger Law | March 23rd, 2015
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – When you go to the doctor, you do so because you need medical assistance. You visit a doctor when you are ill or injured, and you expect to be treated with dignity and respect.
Unfortunately, for 31 patients of Dr. Fidelis Edosomwan, that is not how a trip to the doctor ended.
Edosomwan has been charged with 16 counts of sexual battery and 16 counts of sex offense on behalf of 31 victims who have come forward. The doctor was arrested in January after two patients accused the doctor of inappropriately touching them during what should have been routine examinations.
Captain Cecil Brisbon of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Major Crimes Division told reporters, “You’ve got somebody who is entrusted with conducting these types of medical examinations who violated that trust by doing some inappropriate activity.”
Although Edosomwan has denied the allegations, he agreed to suspend practicing medicine.
Not only have 31 victims come forward, but police have identified eight other victims. Unfortunately, the statute of limitations has expired for those incidents. Police reported in a statement that they are still investigating.
Choose a Doctor with Care
Your health is important to you, but your safety comes first. Before you pick a doctor, it is recommended that you vet them properly. Many people do not realize that they can run a sort of background check on the physicians they are considering for their healthcare.
Before you make up your mind about a doctor, check out your state’s medical board web site. You can search to be sure that your doctor is licensed to practice in your state. Different states allow the public to view different information. In many cases, you can also discover if the doctor has had any disciplinary actions taken against them or malpractice lawsuits filed.
If the information is not readily available on the website, call the medical board directly. Many will give you the information over the phone.
Keep in mind that the records are only available after settlements have been made. You will not be privy to current investigations or allegations. Healthgrades.com is another site that you can utilize to research any doctor that you are considering.
While researching their physician would not have helped the victims in this case, you can protect yourself to the best of your ability by doing so.
If you have been the victim of abuse or malpractice at the hands of a physician, you need a compassionate attorney on your side. We can represent you in court and help you through the process of receiving the compensation you deserve. Call now.
