The hospital system of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical is being sued over allegations that it covered up the abuse of a patient by a discredited urologist over the years.
NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell urologist Dr. Darius Paduch, 55, was arrested in April on charges of sexual abuse against patients of all ages. The occurrences first began in 2015.
Many alleged victims have come forward since then to accuse Paduch of sexually assaulting them. On Thursday, a complaint was filed on behalf of 58 male victims who claimed they were abused between 2003 and 2022.
In a new case filed in New York Supreme Court on behalf of the victims, attorney Anthony T. DiPietro said he’s been on the case for the past 11 years. New victims call in each time the story broadcasts. DiPietro said thousands of patients had no idea they were exploited and abused sexually.
According to the lawsuit, Paduch practiced medicine in Urology for nearly two decades while participating in a career of sexual exploitation, abuse, trafficking, and racketeering of both adolescents and adults.
Paduch, it is claimed, overprescribed opioids to his patients, causing them to become addicted and increasingly reliant on him over time.
He has been accused of using sex toys on his patients and fondling young boys. The lawsuit claims that Weill Cornell’s ethics board tried to “buy the victims’ quiet” despite receiving complaints directly from victims.
Additionally, the lawsuit claims that the defendants and trustees knew, early on, precisely what Paduch was doing to his parents but did nothing to stop it.
In response, Weill Cornell Medical Center stated that “the care and safety of our patients is our highest priority.”
“Patients who trust us should never have to endure treatment like that. We continue to work completely with law authorities and are committed to maintaining the highest professional and ethical standards.”
