Derrick Todd, the Massachusetts doctor who is accused of sexually assaulting more than 200 patients in a class-action lawsuit, has been indicted on two counts of rape.
The former rheumatologist — who is accused of conducting unnecessary pelvic, breast and rectal exams for the purpose of sexually assaulting patients — was indicted by a Middlesex County grand jury, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Framingham Chief of Police Lester Baker confirmed in a press release on Thursday, Jan. 16.
“The indictments,” the press release states, “are for two counts of rape alleging the sexual assault of two women who were his patients at the time of the assaults.” Although the alleged assaults Todd has been accused of span more than a decade, these two incidents allegedly occurred in December 2022 and June 2023.
During his arraignment on Friday, Jan. 17, Todd pleaded not guilty, according to the Associated Press.
A spokesperson for the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office said that the former rheumatologist, who was held on $10,000 bail, was ordered to surrender his passport and all medical licenses and not apply for new ones, the AP reported. He was also ordered not to have any contact with the victims or practice medicine.
Other investigations into Todd’s conduct are ongoing, and the criminal case against Todd is likely to continue growing, William Thompson — an attorney with Lubin & Meyer, the Boston law firm that represents more than 180 of Todd’s accusers — told the AP.
“It’s just the beginning of the criminal case against Dr. Todd, but it does help validate the civil claims that Lubin & Meyer is pursuing on behalf of so many of his former patients,” Thompson told the outlet.
“Fundamentally,” he continued, “it’s about a doctor abusing his position. And taking advantage of patients who put their trust in him for his own personal sexual gratification.”
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Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston
Todd’s attorney, Ingrid Martin, did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
While speaking with reporters outside of the courthouse on Friday, Jan. 17, Martin said that Todd is “innocent,” and “we look forward to receiving the evidence and to challenging it in court,” per NBC 10 Boston.
Todd’s alleged abuse dates back to 2010, and his accusers range from teenagers to women in their 60s, according to NBC 10 and the AP.
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The initial lawsuit filed against Todd in October 2023 — at which time more than 120 women had joined — alleges that Todd “breached his duty of care when he performed inappropriate bodily examinations, practiced gynecological medicine in an unauthorized manner, and sexually assaulted patients under the auspices of providing medical care.”
“All of their statements are rather incriminating regarding Dr. Todd’s conduct,” Andrew Meyer, the attorney representing the plaintiffs, told PEOPLE exclusively at the time. “They have all repeated and alleged the same inappropriate conduct and excessive examinations.”
Meyer also claimed that because Todd was a rheumatologist — a doctor who specializes in conditions affecting the joints, muscles and bones — his exams “should not have involved breast examinations and should not involve vaginal examinations.”
At the time the lawsuit was filed, the Boston hospital where Todd spent much of his medical career, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, explained in a statement to PEOPLE that during his time there, he became the subject of investigation by both the hospital and the Board of Registration in Medicine. The hospital initially suspended Todd, who held the position of Chief of Clinical Rheumatology at Brigham’s Faulkner Hospital.
“We deeply regret the harm Dr. Todd’s actions has caused our patients and their families,” Charles Morris, MD, MPH, Chief Medical Officer, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, told PEOPLE in a statement. “We take our duty to care for our patients and keep them safe extremely seriously. We have, and always will, act decisively on any allegations of misconduct, as we did in this case.”
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.
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