Well, just recently, there was a story in the headlines about Boston’s medical community, and to be honest, it shocked millions of people in the country, and sure enough, not for very good reasons. People were like, how could such a thing even happen and for so long? That’s the mind-boggling part! For a little bit of more disclosure, we’re here talking about the Dr. Derrick Todd Lawsuit, and just so you know, once a close-to-god kind of rheumatologist who was known to treat people for joint and muscle-related problems, he’s really now the face of one of the biggest medical scandals in recent memory, we can say THAT for sure. Not just that though, like, he was a doctor’s dream, you know, trained at Massachusetts General Hospital, med school at UMass, a resume full of gold stars. But behind that sterling reputation was an altogether much darker reality, and that’s precisely what we’re about to tell you, so keep on reading.
What Did He Actually Do That Was So Wrong? Well…
Alright, you may want to hold on tight for this one. Without building any more suspense here, we’d like to tell you that over 200 people (yes, more than 200) have horrified allegations against this doctor. And what are those? Well, not minor complaints, to be honest! They said Dr. Todd performed completely unnecessary, invasive pelvic, breast, and rectal examinations, completely lacking any medical justification, on them. Like, think about that as people came to him for help but, reportedly, abused that trust in the most intimate, violating ways, and that’s what it is all about. Creepy!!
The allegations date back to 2010. Here’s the creepy part, it’s not only women who were in the firing line. Some men have now found the courage to speak up. Many patients described being uncomfortable during the visits but did not know how to react, you know? Like, after all, this was their doctor, someone who they thought had their best interests at heart.
Keep in mind though, neither did it stop at examinations. Dr. Todd is said to have gone beyond that, allegedly using personal and inappropriate comments in communicating with outside patients. He has allowed being the doctor of choice for patients to be further harder and a little more complicated than questioning him.
When Did This All Blow Up?
Well, you see, flash forward to April 2023, when the very first signs of cracks in his facade started showing. But how? Well, just so you know, Brigham and Women’s Hospital got anonymous complaints from him, citing a basis for his investigations. In the beginning, they tightened up what examinations he could do unless there was a chaperone present. Then, he was put on leave with the finality of firing, done, and the guy was gone by July.
Keep in mind that was not the end, well, what then? You see, the hospital reported him to medical, police, and former patients. At the same time, he left Charles River Medical Associates and agreed never to practice medicine again in the United States.
What’s At Stake for the Victims?
Well, looking at how serious of a case this is, you can pretty much see why victims are not just for financial compensation but also other expectations. Yes, they want justice and nothing like this to happen to anybody in the country. That’s all. Though, still, the estimates of expert lawyers put the range of money payments from U.S. $400,000 to U.S. $1.5 million per person, depending on the particular settlement, you know? Sure enough, like, therapy, emotional distress, and other damages will be given.
What looms larger than money, however, is accountability. Many survivors have narrated that this betrayal destroyed their trust, not only in Dr. Todd but in the whole medical system, and that’s a big thing in the US right now.