A former doctor accused of assaulting over 200 patients has been indicted on two counts of rape. Derrick J. Todd, once a rheumatologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and a Harvard postdoc, is facing serious charges after two women came forward, claiming they were sexually assaulted during medical exams in 2022 and 2023 at a clinic in Framingham.
The women allege that during routine exams, Todd conducted inappropriate procedures and made them feel uncomfortable. One woman reported that Todd asked highly personal questions about her sexual life, unrelated to the medical care she was receiving. The accusations have sparked lawsuits from more than 200 former patients who claim Todd’s actions violated their trust.
Todd, who turned himself in to the police on Thursday night, pleaded not guilty to the charges in court. He was granted a $10,000 cash bail and ordered to surrender all of his medical licenses. The charges come after a long series of lawsuits filed in 2023, with some plaintiffs claiming Todd’s inappropriate behavior began as far back as 2010 when he was working at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
In response to the growing number of allegations, Brigham and Women’s Hospital suspended Todd in July 2023 after an internal investigation into complaints from other doctors. He was later let go from his position, and he agreed to stop practicing medicine voluntarily.
Todd’s attorney says that he is ready to face court, where he can challenge the evidence against him and prove his innocence. However, the impact of these accusations has already been far-reaching, with many former patients now seeking justice after years of trust being shattered.
