Steps to Take if You Have Been Sexually Assaulted by Your Doctor

Sexual assault, in any form and by anyone, is a horrible experience. You can feel particularly betrayed when your assaulter is the one person to whom you have trusted your physical well-being: your physician. After the initial shock wanes, it is important to know what to do to stop this doctor from assaulting anyone else, and what to expect during the process.

It is extremely important to go to the police. You will be asked to sit down and write a detailed account of what happened to you. Make sure to do this as soon as possible, before you forget any details. Once a detective is assigned to the case, you will also meet with him or her to discuss your experience.

After you file a report, it takes time to do the research necessary to make an arrest. You may be asked to be interviewed by doctors that are police consultants. They will give the police an idea of what should have happened during the course of the appointment, help the police determine what charges should be filed, and will likely testify in court.

Be prepared to testify in two separate trials: one in front of a medical board which decides if the doctor will lose or retain his medical license, and a criminal trial in front of a judge and jury. Both processes will require meeting with lawyers and prosecutors ahead of time, as well as giving depositions.

What should you expect after going forward?

The entire process will take you on an emotional rollercoaster ride. You can go for weeks without hearing of developments and begin to lose hope. Then other women may begin to come forward saying it happened to them too, which brings relief. Confiding to a friend is helpful in getting through all the legalities of the process, and seeking professional counseling can begin to heal the emotional pain of the assault itself.

Expect many people to not believe you. On several occasions I encountered people outside the courthouse with signs in support of this doctor, and who called me names. I suspect there were a few of my friends who were in disbelief as well.

Because sexual assault at the hands of a doctor is very newsworthy, you will asked to be interviewed by several media outlets. It is important to know that you are protected by victims' laws. Your name or photograph can appear nowhere unless you give express consent. You do not have to speak to anyone about your experience, although it may be cathartic to do so.

Remember the wheels of justice turn slowly. The time between the assault and my doctor going to prison was fifteen months. It can be frustrating at times, because you just want things to be over with, and a relief at other times because it is an overwhelming process and the extra time makes things easier to manage mentally.

It is very emotional and very stressful to go through the entire process. Aside from having just been sexually assaulted, you have to deal with the emotional stress of telling your story and testifying. Your integrity will be questioned, and sometimes you will wonder if you were just imagining things.

Know that in the end it will be worth it. The doctor that assaulted me was imprisoned for four years, and on probation for two. He is now registered as a sex offender, and is no longer practicing medicine. The thing that struck me most about all the women that came out after I told my story was that if THEY had been the ones to come forward it would not have happened to me. It is very likely that because I went forward, I prevented this from happening to someone else. This is why I urge other women who find themselves in a similar position to do the same.