Keches Law Group has filed a class action lawsuit against a rheumatologist accused of routinely performing inappropriate, unnecessary, and invasive physical examinations on his patients.
The lawsuit was filed Friday on behalf of a Sherborn, Massachusetts, woman who says she was sexually abused by her doctor, Dr. Derrick Todd, for 14 years.
Our client is one of dozens of women who claim Todd performed inappropriate breast and pelvic examinations under the guise of medical treatment for more than a decade.
“This case is about seeking justice for all the victims involved in this case,” says Keches Law Partner Jonathan Sweet. “We will work tirelessly to ensure that their voices are heard and that justice is served.”
What Are the Allegations Against Dr. Todd?
The lawsuit filed by Keches Law alleges that Todd, who treated patients at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital and Charles River Medical Associates in Framingham, performed inappropriate pelvic and breast examinations on patients that were unnecessary and outside the scope of practice of a rheumatologist.
“The themes that we’re hearing gives you a profile of a doctor who was brazenly taking advantage of female patients,” Sweet said in a recent interview with WCVB-TV. “He was a rheumatologist treating rheumatology patients, and he was convincing them that he needed to perform pelvic floor examinations, breast examinations as well.”
>> Read the Full Class Action Complaint
The alleged abuse was far from an isolated incident; victims say Todd’s inappropriate behavior went as far back as 2009 and as recently as July 2023.
Todd also surrendered his medical license voluntarily in September 2023.
Institutional Responsibility and Letdown
Medical institutions have a responsibility to protect their patients from harm, yet Todd was allegedly able to continue abusing his patients for nearly 15 years while working for some of the most prominent medical institutions in New England.
So although the lawsuit charges Todd directly, Keches Law wants the institutions themselves to be held accountable for the actions of their employees. This is why the lawsuit also names Charles River Medical Associates, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and Mass General Brigham as defendants.
Mass General Brigham finally opened an internal investigation in April 2023 when two anonymous patients reported abuse. Todd was put on administrative leave in June, and then resigned on July 31 under the threat of termination.
“We deeply regret the harm this has caused to our patients and their families,” said Charles Morris, chief medical officer and senior vice president of medical affairs at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, in a statement.
Holding Medical Providers and Institutions Accountable
When abuse happens, widely respected institutions are expected to not only take note, but take action to protect their patients. For 15 years, the multiple institutions Derrick Todd worked for allegedly didn’t notice.
Our class action lawsuit aims to collect monetary damags to compensate Todd’s victims for the immense pain they’ve experienced, but we’re also demanding injunctive relief, such as policy changes at medical institutions to prevent the abuse of future patients.
We believe that when medical providers wrong the people they are supposed to be helping, they need to be held accountable. This lawsuit seeks to do that and give our clients the justice they deserve.
Keches Law Can Help
If you or someone you know were a victim of Dr. Derrick Todd and the institutions that employed him for so long, contact Keches Law Group. Our skilled attorneys can help you through every step of the process.
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