A jury found a primary care doctor at the Atlanta VA Medical Center in Decatur, Georgia, guilty of sexually assaulting a patient during a routine medical exam, the Justice Department announced Wednesday.
Dr. Rajesh Motibhai Patel, 69, of Lilburn, Georgia, had been charged with sexually assaulting four female patients during appointments that took place between 2019 and 2020.
According to court documents, Patel, who worked at the hospital from December 2015 to February 2020, was charged with violating the patients' "constitutional right to bodily integrity" and unwanted sexual contact. He was acquitted Tuesday of the charges related to three victims but convicted of violating the fourth patient.
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"Dr. Patel violated the cardinal rule of a physician to do no harm to patients under his care," U.S. Attorney Ryan Buchanan said in a statement Wednesday. "Veterans who consulted him for treatment, like the victim in this case, trusted Dr. Patel, and he violated that trust."
According to a database of National Provider Identifier numbers, which are used to identify health care providers, Patel is board certified in internal medicine, specializing in geriatric care.
The Atlanta VA Medical Center provides care for roughly 130,000 patients. In January, a veteran experiencing a mental health crisis was shot by VA police while brandishing a knife. No charges were filed in the incident.
In August, the hospital closed its operating rooms for several weeks to deal with what it called "limited sightings" of flies in the rooms, two to three a day, according to media reports.
Patel's case was investigated by the VA Office of Inspector General and the Justice Department.
According to the VA OIG, its office of investigations looks into potential crimes and civil violations committed by VA employees, contractors, patients and others at VA facilities and in VA programs and operations.
Such investigations could include health care, procurement, benefits, cybercrime, identity theft, embezzlement, violent crimes and more.
As the VA OIG has no prosecutorial powers, investigations are turned over to the Justice Department for prosecution, as was warranted in Patel's case.
"The verdict is an important step in seeking justice for a sexual assault committed against a veteran seeking care at a VA medical center," VA Inspector General Michael Missal said in a statement Wednesday. "VA employees are entrusted with keeping our nation's veterans safe while receiving care. Acts of violence against veterans in VA facilities are reprehensible and shatters that trust."
Patel will be sentenced Feb. 20, according to the Justice Department.
"His conviction hopefully provides a measure of healing for those impacted by his crimes," Buchanan said.
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