Child Sexual Abuse by Doctors in Los Angeles

Providing pediatric care as a medical professional requires specialized clinical skills as well as a unique approach that focuses on ensuring both the physical and psychological health of patients. While most pediatricians can and do meet this high standard of care without issue, some doctors do betray the trust of their communities and abuse their positions to take advantage of vulnerable minor children.

Child sexual abuse by doctors in Los Angeles is a very difficult matter to construct a strong civil claim around on both legal and personal levels. By working with a compassionate healthcare sexual abuse attorney from The Cifarelli Law Firm, you can more effectively enforce your family’s right to civil recovery without putting additional stress on yourself or your child. Contact our team today to learn more about how we could help you.

What Qualifies as Sexual Abuse by a Healthcare Provider?

It is important to emphasize that sexual abuse in a clinical setting can take numerous forms beyond just statutory rape, and Los Angeles doctors—as well as their employers—can be held liable for harming children in physical and non-physical ways. Examples of potential grounds for litigation that our team may be able to help you build a claim around include:

• Conducting unnecessary medical procedures or examinations, given a child’s age or physical condition
• Not using gloves or failing to follow other basic sanitation procedures during exams
• Not allowing children to wear coverings during examinations or insisting on unnecessary disrobing
• Making sexually inappropriate comments or gestures before, during, or after appointments
• Taking photographs or videos of a patient in a state of undress without consent and without a legitimate medical purpose

This is not a comprehensive list of valid grounds for litigation, making it important to speak with one of our attorneys about the possibility of legal action if you suspect your child has been abused.

Seeking Compensation Within Filing Time Limits

A lawsuit over a Los Angeles doctor’s sexual abuse of a child can seek restitution for economic losses, such as medical bills for abuse-related injuries and lost working capacity, and non-economic forms of harm, such as physical pain and psychological distress. It is also possible, and often crucial, to seek compensation in advance for expected long-term effects of this kind of misconduct, which is something our team can provide invaluable assistance with.

Fortunately, state law is very generous when it comes to statutory filing deadlines for child sexual abuse lawsuits, regardless of when or whether criminal charges were filed against the defendant abuser(s). For claims over abuse occurring before January 1, 2024, the deadline is the impacted child’s 40th birthday, and for cases arising after that date, there is no filing time limit whatsoever.

Reach Out to a Los Angeles Attorney About Child Sexual Abuse by a Doctor

Civil compensation on its own cannot completely erase the harm that childhood sexual abuse can cause. What it can do, however, is help you and your family obtain some measure of justice, as well as maximize your overall quality of life moving forward.

Support is available with your lawsuit or settlement demand over child sexual abuse by doctors in Los Angeles. Contact our team at The Cifarelli Law Firm today to learn more.