Dr. Sanjay Sathe, an obstetrician-gynecologist at the Los Angeles-based Kaiser Permanente medical group, is being accused of engaging in a series of inappropriate sexual encounters with a patient at his office.
The alleged acts of exploitation took place from 2010 to 2011, according to a civil lawsuit filed in federal court.
The alleged victim, who is referred to as “Jane Doe” in the lawsuit, claims that Dr. Sathe promised to be her “sugar daddy” and offered to pay her expenses in exchange for sexual favors.
The lawsuit alleges that Dr. Sathe, who is 58 years old, made these offers on multiple occasions and even gave Jane Doe money and gifts, including a designer handbag and a laptop.
The alleged victim claims that she was vulnerable at the time, struggling with poverty and homelessness, and that Dr. Sathe took advantage of her vulnerability.
The lawsuit also alleges that Dr. Sathe used his position to intimidate and manipulate Jane Doe, and that she was forced to continue the sexual encounters in order to obtain medical care for her reproductive health issues.
The alleged victim is seeking damages for her emotional distress, as well as damages for the medical expenses she incurred as a result of the alleged abuse.
The case is a stark reminder of the importance of protecting patients’ rights and ensuring that medical professionals are held accountable for their actions.