A Californian hospital has reached a settlement of $18.5m with seven women who accused a physical therapist of sexually abusing them for years, reports Becker’s Hospital Review.
The complaint alleged that at least five employees at Adventist Health Sonara had witnessed or received reports of sexual misconduct by Jason Elias – who had worked at at the facility for decades – from multiple women, as early as 2007. However, the health system did not immediately investigate, increase supervision or report him to law enforcement, according to the plaintiffs’ law firm, Lewis & Llewellyn LLP.
The complaints said the patients had seen Elias when they were in pain or at vulnerable times in their lives. He then isolated them in private treatment rooms, instructed them to completely undress and sexually assaulted them under a medical treatment guise.
Elias was suspended in 2022, and Adventist Health later opened an internal investigation after several women came forward.
“Our clients went to Adventist Health for relief from debilitating pain and instead endured abuse by the person entrusted with their care,” said Lewis & Llewellyn attorney Erin Reding.
“The women’s bravery in coming forward exposed not only his conduct, but the institutional failures that allowed the danger to continue… we know Elias abused other women in the community.”
The settlement was divided among the seven plaintiffs equally, equating to $2.64m per woman, representing one of the country’s largest per-plaintiff recoveries in a sexual abuse case that involved a medical provider.
“Adventist Health Sonora’s top priority is the care and safety of our patients, staff, and community,” said a spokesperson for Adventist Health said. “When we received a formal complaint about this individual, he was suspended and stopped treating patients here. We investigated the allegations, ended his employment, and reported him to the Physical Therapy Board of California. The lawsuit has now been resolved.”
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
$750m settlement for hundreds of sex abuse claims against gynae
US medical school forks out millions in deal over urologist’s abuse
Bail reduced for US doctor accused by 180 patients of sexual abuse