Law Commentary - California Edition
California Medical Board Accuses High-Profile Doctor of Sexual Exploitation and Misconduct
Two women have accused a Modesto obstetrician-gynecologist, Dr. Robert Altman, of alleged sexual exploitation and misconduct. The California Medical Board has since charged him with the alleged acts and said he is subject to disciplinary action. The Board is responsible for the oversight of the state’s physicians’ licensing.
After doing an investigation, the Board said that in its opinion Dr. Altman’s behavior amounted to “sexual misconduct and gross negligence.”
Dr. Altman is the president and chief executive officer of Gould Medical Group. This association counts about 400 physicians as members and offers patients care at 22 care centers in Stanislaus and San Joaquin California counties.
Dr. Altman denies all charges. A spokesperson on behalf of Sutter Health released a statement that they believe the Medical Board will fairly investigate the case.
“Dr. Altman is a respected physician and long-standing member of the local community,” a Sutter spokesperson said in an email to the Sacramento Bee. “We take safety and quality matters seriously and have confidence in the Medical Board of California’s complaint resolution process. We expect Dr. Altman will receive fair and due process regarding these allegations, which he disputes.”
The accusations against Dr. Altman included some female patients telling the administrators at Sutton Health that the doctor’s actions were inappropriate. In the complaint, the Medical Board said, some of the tactile engagement was “sexual misconduct.”
The two women’s accusations allege that the prominent obstetrician-gynecologist conducted inappropriate touching during examinations and that the doctor did not include chaperones during the medical exams.
It is common practice to include a chaperone in the examination room during a woman’s obstetrics or gynecological exams. Almost all medical organizations such as The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommend having a chaperone in the room during examinations by doctors for breast, genital, and rectal exams.
Sensitive information in one complaint from a patient said that the doctor allegedly “touched” her clitoris during an exam and continued to do vaginal examinations after being asked to stop.
A second female patient included in the complaint alleged that Dr. Altman hugged her in a “husband-like hug” that made her feel uncomfortable after he conducted a medical examination.
A third woman, Charlene Curry, who did not participate in the official complaint and was a former patient of Dr. Altman’s, told the Modesto Bee that the doctor gave her an inappropriate hug.
Ms. Curry said in her interview that she was in a medical gown and lying on the table, when “He wrapped his arms around me and pushed himself toward me.”
After notifying the Sutter Gould administrators of her experience, Ms. Curry said the healthcare organization did not get back to her, but the Medical Board contacted her and said they arranged an appointment for her to speak with a state investigator in the Ceres Police Department.
Dr. Altman has the legal right to contest the allegations in a hearing with an administrative law judge. He denies all charges. In a statement about his client, Dr. Altman’s attorney said, “Our response is we don’t litigate through the media and the allegations of misconduct are completely false. He is going to be vindicated when the matter proceeds to a hearing and evidence is introduced.”
The possible disciplinary actions against Dr. Altman could be having his license suspended or revoked, being placed on probation, having to pay administrative fines, or receiving a public reprimand.
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