Dozens of men have filed lawsuits against Dr. William Thompson for sexual abuse during unnecessary rectal, genital, and prostate exams at his office in Newport Beach, California.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting sexual abuse induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was sexually abused by Dr. William Thompson IV, M.D. in California, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Sexual Abuse Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
73 Men File Sex Abuse Lawsuits Against Dr. William Thompson IV
In January 2024, a sex abuse lawsuit with 73 plaintiffs was filed against Dr. William Thompson by men who accused him of sexual abuse during unnecessary rectal and genital exams. These patients say their trust in doctors has been permanently shattered.
What Happened?
Dozens of lawsuits have been filed by men who were allegedly sexually abused during examinations by Dr. William Thompson IV, M.D., a doctor in Orange County, California.
These lawsuits accuse Dr. Thompson of conducting unnecessary rectal and genital exams on men for his own sexual pleasure. The survivors are seeking compensation for their mental and physical injuries through a settlement or other legal resolution of their lawsuits.
Who is Dr. William Thompson?
Dr. William Thompson was once a well-respected doctor who specialized in treating infectious diseases like HIV and AIDS, with a focus on the LGBTQ community.
Dr. Thompson worked for decades in Orange County, California, with his practice based in Newport Beach. He earned a medical degree from Autonomous University of Guadalajara Medical School in 2000.
His practice was affiliated with the Hoag Hospital Newport Beach.
Dr. Thompson Accused of Sexual Abuse
Dr. William Thompson was first accused of sexual abuse by male patients who came forward in 2023. The police opened a criminal investigation, which resulted in Dr. Thompson being arrested in September 2023.
He was charged with sexually assaulting 9 male patients during medical exams between 2016 and 2020. The charges include more than a dozen felony counts, including sexual penetration, sexual battery by fraud, and forcible oral copulation.
What Did He Do?
The 9 men who came forward with accusations against Dr. Thompson all had similar stories. He would offer to do a prostate exam under the guise of preventative medicine, and then perform overly aggressive, prolonged, and frequent exams, sometimes along with unnecessary molestation of the genitals. Some of the victims claimed Dr. Thompson would show the patient how aroused he was after the exam was done.
Sexual Abuse by Doctors
Sexual abuse occurs when a doctor engages in inappropriate sexual behavior toward a patient. This can take many forms, but commonly involves sexual touching on the breasts or genitals without a valid medical purpose, but instead for the sexual gratification of the doctor.
Some doctors will perform genital exams when a patient has unrelated medical problems, like an injury in another area of the body. Abuse may also occur during routine physicals. In many cases, the victim is not aware that they are being sexually abused because the doctor lies about having a valid medical reason for performing a genital exam.
Doctors may also be guilty of sexually abusing patients when they take sexually explicit photographs, watch patients undress for their own sexual pleasure, or engage in conversations of a sexual nature.
Hospitals May Be Named in Sex Abuse Lawsuits Against Doctors
When lawsuits are filed, the hospital where the doctor worked may also be named as a defendant. This occurs when the hospital received complaints about inappropriate sexual behavior or unnecessary genital exams, but did not stop the doctor’s abuse.
Can I File a Lawsuit?
Dr. Thompson worked in California, a state which allows the victims of sexual abuse by a doctor to file civil lawsuit for sexual battery. It is also possible to file a lawsuit against the hospital where the doctor worked.
You can file a lawsuit even if you never reported the abuse to police or pursued criminal charges. You can also file a lawsuit even if you never told anyone about the sexual abuse before contacting a lawyer.
Do I have a Dr. William Thompson Sex Abuse Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting sexual abuse induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was sexually abused by Dr. William Thompson IV, M.D. in California, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Sexual Abuse Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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