A Department of Veterans Affairs doctor in Georgia has been indicted over allegations that he sexually assaulted at least four female patients, prosecutors announced this week.
Rajesh Motibhai Patel, a primary care physician at the Atlanta VA Medical Center in Decatur, was charged with multiple counts of violating his patients' constitutional right to bodily integrity while acting under color of law and for engaging in unwanted sexual contact, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia said in a news release Thursday.
"Our veterans have made incredible sacrifices for our country and deserve the best medical treatment and highest quality of care," U.S. Attorney Ryan Buchanan said in a statement. "Patel allegedly sexually abused his female patients and violated his oath to do no harm to patients under his care."
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Prosecutors allege Patel, 68, assaulted four of his female patients during routine exams in 2019 and 2020, including by groping their breasts and improperly touching their vaginal area, according to the release.
The release included no other details about the case, and a search for the case on the federal court database known as PACER did not immediately turn up results.
In a statement Sunday night, the VA said Patel was removed from patient care and reassigned to a role with no patient interaction as soon as the department learned about the allegations.
"These alleged actions are horrific and unacceptable. We take this matter extremely seriously, and we have been cooperating with law enforcement since these concerns were raised," VA press secretary Terrence Hayes said in the statement. "We will offer any impacted veteran the care and support they need, and we will continue to cooperate fully with the investigation."
Officials believe there may be more victims, according to the release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors encouraged anyone with details about Patel or other possible victims to contact the VA's inspector general's office, which is taking the lead on investigating the case, at (770) 758-6646.
"Veterans and their families expect and deserve the highest quality of health care delivered in a safe and accountable setting," VA Inspector General Michael Missal said in a statement. "The VA Office of Inspector General is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to ensure the safety of those who entrust their health care to the providers and staff at VA's 1,200 medical facilities."
Editor's Note: This story has been updated to include comment from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
-- Rebecca Kheel can be reached at rebecca.kheel@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @reporterkheel.
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