NorthShore Gynecologist Indicted On Sexual Assault Charge

SKOKIE, IL — A gynecologist accused of sexual assaulting a patient during an appointment was arrested last month in Skokie, more than 18 months after a woman reported she had been assaulted during a doctor's appointment, according to police reports. The woman reported the assault on Feb. 2, 2017. The doctor, a former partner at NorthShore University Medical Group, was indicted in August and his license to practice medicine was suspended following his arrest the following month. The medical group said it no longer employs the doctor but refused to say when he stopped seeing patients.

Fabio Ortega, 72, of the 2900 block of West Bryn Mawr Avenue in Chicago, was arrested on Sept. 10 at the Skokie Courthouse and charged with one count of criminal sexual assault.

Ortega's license to practice medicine was suspended Sept. 17, according to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. The listed reason was "engaging in sexual misconduct with a patient at his practice."

According to heavily redacted police reports, Ortega touched a patient inappropriately during an exam and made various sexually suggestive comments. The woman told police she was shocked and very uncomfortable. In numerous past visits to the gynecologist, she said, she had never experienced anything this inappropriate.

Police said the woman was visibly upset and crying during the interview. She told investigators she had filed the police report because "she wanted to stop Ortega from doing this to another patient." Although the woman told police she wanted to press charges against Ortega on Feb. 7, 2017, police were not able to arrange an interview with Ortega until Aug. 11, 2017, according to reports.

Ortega completed his residency in 1985 and joined NorthShore as an independent practitioner in 2004, he said during the interview. He told investigators he was asked to become a partner in 2009. His online biography said graduated from the Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara in Mexico and was affiliated with Glenbrook, Highland Park and Evanston hospitals. He split his time between offices at 6810 McCormick Blvd. in Lincolnwood and at 9977 Woods Drive in Skokie, according to police reports.

The doctor told detectives he may have asked questions about sexual fantasies, anal sex and a "buttocks enhancement procedure" with the woman, according to police reports. He denied touching her inappropriately.

Skokie detectives investigating the allegations against Ortega discovered that the doctor had been the subject of a previous complaint filed with the Department of Financial and Professional regulation for inappropriate behavior toward a patient.

In 2013, a woman who had been referred to Ortega told police "things got weird when Dr. Ortega began calling her on her cellular phone late at night and would ask her if she had any sexual fantasies and what were they," according to an account of her interview with investigators.

Ortega also reportedly made a comment about the woman's breasts being "appetizing." According to police reports, the woman said Ortega refused to turn over her medical records unless she met with him outside of the office. He invited her to "go get coffee" but the woman refused. Police and prosecutors determined no crime was committed. Ortega told police he did not recognize the woman and was not aware of the complaint. State regulators did not discipline Ortega as a results of the complaint.

Following the police interview with Ortega, prosecutors from the Cook County State's Attorney's Office reviewed the case and advised police to send additional information to the office's sex crimes division in August 2017. It would be more than a year before Ortega's arrest.

In October 2017, investigators provided the requested records, but by January 2018, no decision had been made about charges and prosecutors called for more grand jury subpoenas, according to police reports. In April, prosecutors said the records required further review, and the records provided by NorthShore University HealthSystem "were not sufficient." At that point, police listed the case as inactive pending a decision from the state's attorneys' office on whether to file charges. When the lead detective checked back on the case in mid-August, she learned prosecutors planned to indict Ortega on Aug. 27.

Ortega directed questions to his criminal defense attorney, Doug Wexler, who did not respond to messages seeking comment. According to police reports, Wexler claimed he had obtained evidence from medical records that would "clear his client's name" but refused to provide it to investigators.

Ortega was released from custody after providing the $15,000 cash portion of his bond. He is due back in court Oct. 16.

Police reports indicate lawyers for the medical group requested to be present when police interviewed Ortega, and investigators were not allowed to speak with staff until a director gave permission. According to a detective on the case, NorthShore did not allow police to speak to staff for more than a month.

In a statement, NorthShore said it took "immediate steps" to remove Ortega from patient care last year and said he is no longer employed or affiliated with the hospital.

NorthShore Public Relations Manager Carolyn Starks declined to specify when Ortega was removed from patient care or when he was terminated.