Harvard-trained doctor faces charges for sexually assaulting more than 200 patients

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A Harvard-trained doctor accused of sexually assaulting more than 200 patients has officially been charged with rape.

Dr. Derrick Todd, a rheumatologist who had practices across Massachusetts, was indicted by a grand jury in Middlesex County Thursday on two counts of rape, according to the Boston Globe.

The charges stem from incidents in December 2022 and June 2023, when he allegedly raped female patients at Charles River Medical Associates in Framingham.

An arrest warrant has now been issued for Todd, who is also facing a class action civil lawsuit brought by more than 200 of his former patients who claim they were sexually assaulted.

It claims that Todd began abusing patients as far back as 2010 at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.

He would gain the patients' confidence, going beyond treating their rheumatic diseases and becoming their only doctor, while conducting invasive, unnecessary exams, the suit claims.

Among the accusers is Kristin Fritz, who told how she went to Todd because she was struggling with pain in  her spine.

She claimed the visit started normally, but as the examination continued, Todd 'aggressively' groped her breasts.  

Dr. Derrick Todd, a rheumatologist who had practices across Massachusetts , was indicted by a grand jury in Middlesex County Thursday on two counts of rape

'I feel so violated,' Fritz told The Associated Press in April. 'I feel so ashamed of myself for not knowing better in the moment to do anything and to be like, yeah, this did feel wrong and I should tell somebody.' 

Another former patient said she struggled to find a doctor during the COVID pandemic, and was thrilled when Todd said he would help her with her symptoms of tingling and numbness in her arms and hands.

As the years went on, Todd became her primary doctor and gynecologist, conducting repeat vaginal exams.

The alleged victim said Todd would routinely comment on her body, ask her to strip naked and make sure she was unaccompanied during exams.

'It honestly impacted every single component of my life because it just occupies every part of myself from my self-confidence,' said the woman, who reported Todd to the medical board after discussing his behavior with her gynecologist and realizing something was wrong.

And Mimi DiTrani, who filed the initial lawsuit against Todd, also claimed the doctor performed repeat breast and vaginal exams as well as asked her a series of 'invasive' questions about her appearance, sexual history and sexual activity. 

She claimed that, starting at her first appointment in November 2022, Todd 'began subjecting her to a course of predatory grooming, boundary violating, mental, emotional, and physical sexual abuse that was masked by his position of power and authority.'

Among the accusers who are suing Todd in a civil suit is Kristin Fritz, who claims he 'aggressively' groped her breasts

Mimi DiTrani, who filed the initial lawsuit against Todd, also claimed the doctor performed repeat breast and vaginal exams as well as asked her a series of 'invasive' questions about her appearance, sexual history and sexual activity

Still, DiTrani said she continued visiting Todd for appointments through January, at which point she changed to remote contact - until she felt pressured to move to Massachusetts for more appointments in June and July.

'I questioned it because I thought maybe I imagined it, it's a doctor,' she said at a news conference in October 2023.

'When you trust someone to help you, you see them and you're very vulnerable, and when they violate that trust, and they hurt you instead of heal you, it can be very frightening and not easy to process. 

'I had a hunch. Why did I go back? But that's why I want to say "it's not your fault" - these people know what they're doing.'

Despite the claims, Todd was allowed to continue examining patients as recently as April 2023. He was finally suspended from working in June of that year, and was fired a month later.

Charles Morris, Chief Medical Officer at Brigham and Women's Hospital, said Todd's conduct was investigated following two complaints 

Brigham and Women's Hospital Chief Medical Officer Charles Morris has since explained that it received two anonymous complaints about Todd in April 2023, and launched an internal investigation.

While that was going on, Todd was told he could not conduct sensitive exams without a chaperone.

When Todd was ultimately fired, Morris said the hospital notified the Department of Public Health, the state Board of Registration in Medicine, law enforcement and his current and former patients.

By September 2023, Todd reached a voluntary agreement with the Board of Registration in Medicine to stop practicing medicine anywhere in the country. 

The Charles River Medical Associates, however, has said it was never made aware of any complaints of 'inappropriate conduct' by Todd and said it reached out to patients to report their concerns.

'We are deeply troubled and saddened by these disturbing allegations and recognize the courage it took for these patients to come forward,' it said in a statement as female patients began to speak out.

Todd's lawyer, Ingrid Martin, has previously said the doctor 'believes that he has done nothing wrong and will defend against [the allegations] vigorously'

They now say they feel that justice is finally starting to be served.

'It's been a long wait for all of the 228 former patients who have come forward to date,' attorney William Thompson, of Lubin & Meyer told the Globe of Todd's indictment.

'And it serves as some vindication or acknowledgment that he is going to be held accountable for what he has done to all the patients who put their trust in him as a physician.'

One of Todd's accusers also said she was relieved when she saw the news of the indictment.

'What I felt and what I am still feeling right now is that it's been a year and a half of feeling like we were going to be silenced and no one was taking this seriously,' she said. 

'We still have a story to tell, but at least someone heard us,' the victim said, adding that she is still hoping Todd will be charged in Suffolk County - which is continuing to investigate the claims against him as is the Boston Police Department.

An arraignment had not been scheduled as of Thursday evening, but Todd's lawyer, Ingrid Martin, has previously said the doctor 'believes that he has done nothing wrong and will defend against [the allegations] vigorously.'