A lawsuit against two top Chicago hospitals accuses an OB-GYN of sexually abusing more than 300 women, most of them Latina and Spanish speakers, and alleges that the hospitals ignored the women’s complaints. The suit was filed on behalf of one woman, referred to as “Jane Doe 300,” and accused staff at NorthShore Medical Group and Swedish Covenant Hospital of concealing complaints about the former doctor’s behavior leading up to his conviction. The suit described instances of Ortega performing unnecessary pelvic exams, asking intrusive questions about patients’ sex lives, and assaulting patients under the guise of performing vaginal examinations.
The Chicago-based law firm representing the plaintiff, Stinar Gould Grieco & Hensley, stated that they arrived at the number of more than 300 alleged victims after putting out legal ads about Ortega. Some of the alleged victims reported experiences dating back to 1989, with one individual cited in the lawsuit who was allegedly assaulted twice in 2017 when she was 22 and pregnant. The hospitals allegedly withheld information about Ortega being under criminal investigation from patients, leading to patients unknowingly continuing to see him.
The lawsuit also described instances where patients reported abuse to nursing assistants, family doctors, and even Chicago police in 2004. Ortega allegedly requested a one-year leave of absence in 2004 without explanation and resumed treating patients after that period. Many of Ortega’s alleged victims were Latina and primarily Spanish speakers, and were sent to him for treatment due to his ability to communicate in Spanish. The lawsuit stated that minority patients are commonly silenced by healthcare providers when they raise concerns or complaints.
Endeavor Health, which now operates both hospitals, declined to comment on pending litigation or specific allegations, but stated that its hospitals have zero tolerance for abuse of any kind. The hospitals acknowledged the courage it takes for survivors of abuse to come forward and said they are committed to the highest standards of safety and quality in care. The statement also mentioned enhanced processes and policies to support reporting of abuse and cooperation with law enforcement. Attorneys for the plaintiffs are not pursuing a class-action case but plan to file additional lawsuits on behalf of more than 300 alleged victims.
Ortega served three years in prison after pleading guilty to sexually abusing two patients, and has since been released. The lawsuit has resurfaced painful memories for some victims, including one woman who began seeing Ortega when she was 18 and pregnant with her first child. The woman expressed anger towards the hospitals for allegedly knowing about the abuse. The attorneys representing the victims also represented victims of former USA gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar and highlighted the silencing of minority patients by healthcare providers when they raise concerns. Additional lawsuits on behalf of alleged victims of Ortega are forthcoming, with the legal team emphasizing that each victim’s damages are unique and should not be lumped together in a class-action case.
