Ex-NorthShore Gynecologist Faces Second Sexual Assault Charge

SKOKIE, IL — The indicted former NorthShore University HealthSystem gynecologist whose medical license has been suspended by state regulators for "engaging in sexual misconduct with patients" was arrested this week and charged with the sexual assault of a second woman in his office.

Fabio Ortega, 73, of the 2900 block of West Bryn Mawr Avenue, Chicago, appeared in court Friday for a bond hearing in Skokie on a charge of criminal sexual assault by force. He is separately awaiting trial on a charge of criminal sexual assault without consent and, along with NorthShore, facing pending lawsuits in Cook County from at least five women.

Prior to the suspension of his license in September 2018, Ortega practiced medicine at NorthShore medical group offices at 6801 McCormick Blvd. in Lincolnwood and at 9977 Woods Drive in Skokie. He graduated from the Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara in Mexico, completed his residency in 1985 and was affiliated with Glenbrook, Highland Park and Evanston hospitals, according to police reports and an online resume.

Prosecutors told Cook County Circuit Judge Paul Pavlus the latest charge stems from March 2016 incident at Ortega's Lincolnwood office.

A woman in her 30s who had been referred to his practice said the appointment begun routinely, but then Ortega began groping and rubbing her breasts. He briefly walked across the room before returning to the patient, inserting his fingers into her and telling her he was rubbing her "g-spot," according to prosecutors.

Ortega asked the woman about her sex life with her spouse — whether they engaged in role playing, whether they had sexual fantasies and whether they had anal sex, prosecutors told the judge. The woman tried to pull away from Ortega "several times, but was not able to do so," they said.

"Eventually, [Ortega] stopped his assault, and gave [the woman] a literature pamphlet about low libido, which was not the reason for [her] visit to [Ortega's] office, nor something she requested information about," according to prosecutors.

A civil suit filed against Ortega and NorthShore on behalf of the woman earlier this year said she had gone to the doctor for an irregular menstrual cycle and possible early menopause. It alleged that Ortega falsified her medical records and tried to get her to return without a valid medical reason.

Ortega's latest accuser found the strength to come forward after seeing a news report that Ortega had been accused of doing the same thing to a different patient, prosecutors said Friday. Similarly, one of the women suing Ortega and NorthShore told Patch earlier this year that it was only after reading a Skokie Patch report about Ortega's indictment that she learned how inappropriate his conduct had been.

Ortega's other pending criminal sexual assault charge is connected to a January 2017 incident in Skokie. In that case, Ortega asked a series of inappropriate questions, including queries about her sex life and the size of her husband's genitals.

Ortega is due back in court on the Skokie case on Nov. 14. Ortega and his criminal defense attorney, Doug Wexler, have previously declined to comment on the allegations. Following a brief off-the-record conversation with Ortega's attorney, Pavlus ordered him to provide a $5,000 cash bond in exchange for his release ahead of his next appearance Dec. 10 on the new Lincolnwood charge.

Related:
NorthShore Gynecologist Indicted On Sexual Assault Charge
Lawsuits: NorthShore Put Patients At Risk Of Indicted OB-GYN
Four More Women Sue NorthShore And Its Disgraced Gynecologist

"We find any allegations of this nature to be deeply disturbing and not reflective of the high standards of care we stand for and that our patients expect from us," NorthShore University HealthSystem Senior Director of Public Relations Jim Anthony said. "The physician in question is no longer employed by us."

Attorney Tamara Holder, who said she represents 21 former patients Ortega abused during his time at NorthShore, has filed five civil lawsuits on behalf of "Jane Doe" plaintiffs against the health system.

"Today is further evidence that we are seeing a sea change: Female patients are no longer staying silent. They are no longer afraid to seek justice. Doctors who abused their position of trust, and engaged in trickery to sexually assault female patients, are finally being exposed," Holder said.

NorthShore's failure to discipline, investigate or supervise Ortega have him the idea his sexual misconduct "would go unpunished and could continue," according to civil complaints Holder has filed on behalf of his patients.

The suits allege the health system placed Ortega on paid leave prior to December 2017 and allowed him to "quietly retire" rather than be fired.

Spokespeople for the hospital have declined to answer any questions about when Ortega stopped working for the hospital, whether he was terminated or whether his patients were notified of the allegations against him.

"We look forward to the day when health care corporations will no longer hide in silence, no longer ignore their paying female patients' complaints, and instead both apologize and compensate them for a lifetime of trauma they caused these women and their families," she added.