A former top city urologist, Darius Paduch, is now facing a lawsuit involving more than 300 male victims, making it the largest case of its kind in history. Paduch was convicted on 13 counts of sexual abuse in May 2023 and is currently awaiting sentencing. He has been accused of exploiting thousands of victims through his medical practice at Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia University, and Northwell Health Systems.
The allegations against Paduch include injecting serums into patients’ penises to induce prolonged erections, conducting cystoscopies without anesthesia, forcing patients to undergo humiliating exams, and performing unnecessary procedures for personal gratification. In some instances, the abuse took place in front of other hospital staff members, who allegedly did not intervene.
Plaintiffs’ lawyer Anthony T. DiPietro claims that Paduch’s employers were aware of his misconduct as early as 2017 but failed to take action. DiPietro has filed a class-action lawsuit against Paduch and his former employers, which includes Weill Cornell Medicine, NewYork Presbyterian Hospital, Northwell Health, and Columbia University. The lawsuit alleges that these institutions provided Paduch with a platform for his abuse and failed to protect patients from harm.
In response to the allegations, Weill Cornell has stated that it is “heartbroken for these survivors” and has implemented new policies and training programs to prevent future abuse. However, representatives for the other defendants in the lawsuit have not yet commented on the case. The victims’ stories serve as a stark reminder of the need for increased vigilance and safeguards within the medical community to protect patients from sexual predators.
