A doctor in California who specializes in treating LGBTQ+ patients has been accused of sexually assaulting multiple individuals during supposed medical exams. 56-year-old Dr. William Thompson IV was arrested last week in Newport Beach and is now facing various charges, including sexual penetration and oral copulation by fraudulent means, as well as sexual battery, per the New York Post. Six victims came forward after realizing that the tests they had undergone between 2016 and 2020 were unnecessary. These included inappropriate anal exams and forcing a male patient to perform oral sex.
Newport Beach Police Chief Joe Cartwright announced that the thorough investigation uncovered three more victims.
“Many of Dr. Thompson’s patients depended on him to provide life-saving care and he exploited those vulnerabilities for his own sexual gratification. Unfortunately, because of his specialized area of practice, Dr. Thompson put the very patients he was supposed to treat with professionalism and dignity, in a situation where they may have felt they had no other choice but to be subjected to sexual abuse in order to receive the treatment they needed to continue to live,”
Todd Spitzer said the Orange County District Attorney.
“No one should be violated in such a shameful way by someone who has taken an oath to protect their patients,”
Spitzer continued.
If convicted on all charges, Thompson could face a sentence of 30 years to life plus 25 years. He posted $100,000 bail and is due in court on November 2. It is currently unknown whether he has hired an attorney or not.
The police are continuing their investigation and are encouraging any other potential victims to come forward. Thompson’s online profile on patientfusion.com indicates that he studied medicine at the Autonomous University of Guadalajara Faculty with the purpose of caring for HIV patients who had faced discrimination.
#Clique, what are your thoughts?
