A Massachusetts grand jury has indicted a rheumatologist on charges of sexually assaulting two women in a case linked to accusations made by over 200 former patients.
Dr. Derrick Todd, previously affiliated with Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, faces two counts of rape for alleged assaults that occurred in December 2022 and June 2023, according to the Middlesex District Attorney's Office. The indictment, handed down on Thursday, is part of an ongoing investigation into Todd's conduct over more than a decade.
Todd entered a not-guilty plea during his arraignment on Friday, where he was held on $10,000 bail. The court imposed several conditions on Todd, including surrendering his passport and medical licenses, refraining from practicing medicine and avoiding contact with the victims, a spokesperson for the district attorney’s office said.
The criminal charges are expected to grow, according to William Thompson, an attorney with Boston firm Lubin & Meyer, which represents more than 180 of the accusers in a civil case.
"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 said.
The civil lawsuit alleges that Todd performed unnecessary medical procedures on patients, including pelvic floor therapy, breast examinations, and testicular examinations, dating back to 2010.
"Fundamentally, 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,” Thompson said.
Todd's former employer, Brigham and Women's Hospital, received anonymous complaints about him in April 2023. Following an internal investigation, the hospital fired Todd in July. As part of that, he agreed to stop practicing medicine nationwide in a voluntary arrangement with the Board of Registration in Medicine.
Those alleged to have been violated by the doctor span a wide range of ages, from teenagers to women in their 60s.
Paula Bliss, an attorney representing victims and partner at Justice Law Collaborative, described the indictment on Friday as "a resounding moment of validation for the patients he sexually assaulted and the brave survivors who came forward with the truth of this so-called medical professional's deplorable conduct."
The civil case against Todd is currently in the discovery phase, according to Thompson. The lawsuit also implicates other defendants, including Brigham and Women's Hospital, alleging they were aware of the abuse but failed to take action to stop it.
Anthony Abeln, an attorney who represented Todd in the civil case, did not immediately return a request for comment made by NTD News. Attempts to reach Ingrid Martin, a criminal lawyer who has also represented him, were also unsuccessful.