Even after Ohio State's sexual abuse scandal, much remains secretive and unchanged for patients who accuse doctors of misconduct

The Columbus Dispatch
·2 min read

Dr. Richard Strauss wasn’t the only one.

Strauss was accused of sexually abusing at least 177 patients during his time at Ohio State University. But he was just one of hundreds of Ohio physicians who sexually abused or harassed hundreds more patients throughout 42 years, a Dispatch investigation has found.

Following a state investigation into the State Medical Board of Ohio’s botched handling of accusations against Strauss, Dispatch reporters launched their own probe.

Reporters found the state medical board for years didn't do enough to warn and protect the public from serial sexual abusers and harassers despite a decades-long history of doctors preying on patients. The medical board's investigations have been shrouded in secrecy with just a fraction of the allegations ever being made public.

The alleged sexual misconduct of the doctors varies widely. And the victims often suffer in silence or never receive the justice they seek.

Even with the endorsement of the governor and medical board director, reforms proposed in 2022 went nowhere. That legislation has yet to be reintroduced this year, leaving holes in a system that is supposed to protect the public from predatory doctors.

State medical board failed to protect Ohioans from doctors' sexual misconduct

A Dispatch investigation found more than 250 Ohio doctors have been disciplined for sexual misconduct by the State Medical Board of Ohio in the last 42 years. At least 199 of those doctors sexually abused or harassed over 440 patients. READ MORE

'He deserved worse than what he got': Circleville doctor may have abused 150 patients

The late Dr. Ray Carroll of Circleville was abusing young women and girls at the same time Dr. Richard Strauss was abusing students at Ohio State. READ MORE

'Nobody cares': Columbus-area man took his own life after accusing doctor of sexual abuse

A Columbus-area man said in personal writings that he took his own life because of sexual abuse he suffered at the hands of his doctor for years. READ MORE

'A black hole': How the state medical board bungled sex abuse cases for years

A Dispatch investigation found inconsistencies and delays in how the State Medical Board of Ohio dealt with doctor sexual misconduct. READ MORE

Sickening snapshots: A closer look at accusations of doctors preying on patients

Medical board records paint a detailed picture of what happens in exam rooms where doctors abuse or harass patients. READ MORE

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Preying on Patients: Hundreds of doctors have abused, harassed Ohioans

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