'They Felt Alone:' 88 Women Accuse Boston Doctor Of Sexual Abuse

BOSTON, MA — Just days after the first reports emerged that former Brigham and Women's doctor Derrick J. Todd agreed to stop practicing following two accusations that he had sexually abused patients, the number of accusers climbed to 88, Attorney Andrew C. Meyer, Jr. told Patch Thursday.

Todd, who was chief of clinical rheumatology at Faulkner, was terminated in July after complaints from two physicians sparked an internal investigation in the spring, The Boston Globe reported. Among these complaints were concerns about Todd's alleged improper practice of breast exams and pelvic exams.

After the decision was made to terminate Todd, he resigned, according to WCVB.

Meyer, a medical malpractice lawyer with Massachusetts-based firm Lubin & Meyer PC, represents the 88 women in a class action lawsuit filed in Suffolk County Superior Court this week.

He said he began receiving calls from Todd's first two accusers around six months ago. Over the last week, as the media reports emerged about the complaints and Todd's termination, others began to come forward.

"They felt they were alone. Now they know they're not," Meyer said. "They heard and read about the fact that there was a place for them to turn for some accountability."

With nearly 90 plaintiffs in the suit, some of them suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, Meyer said justice looks different for each of the clients he is representing. But they all share one common goal, Meyer said: holding Todd and those who 'allowed him to practice in the manner in which he was' accountable.

Meyer noted the similarities between Todd's case and that of Larry Nassar, the USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University sports medicine doctor sentenced to life in prison in 2018 after being accused of molesting more than 150 young women and girls in his care.

"[Nassar] used the same gimmick," Meyer said. "He said, 'I will do pelvic exams and pelvic floor therapy on you, and this will help you.' And he was doing it just to satisfy his sexual needs."

Nassar's victims accused him of taking advantage of their trust in him as a doctor, telling them that he was performing the exams because many sources of pain and dysfunction can be traced back to problems with the pelvic floor.

Similarly, Todd, as a rheumatologist, "really had no business" doing pelvic exams, Meyer said.

"He practiced way outside the lanes," Meyer said, adding that clients have told him that oftentimes, Todd did exams—sometimes lasting as long as 45 minutes—without a speculum or a chaperone with him.

"In many cases, [Todd] did breast exams, which were totally unwarranted, lasted inordinate amounts of time, and were awkward at best," according to Meyer.

Todd is also facing a medical malpractice lawsuit that was filed in Middlesex Superior Courtagainst Brigham—and Charles River Medical Associates in Framingham, where Todd also worked, the Globe reported.

Meyer added that though "obviously [Todd] is responsible for his own conduct," there are others who could have "overseen him, supervised him, and put an end to it."

"A hospital that allows somebody to affiliate with them—a hospital allows somebody to work within their institution—isn't just renting space in an apartment," Todd continued. "They are giving the doctor the authority of quality. And unfortunately, it was misplaced here."

Through this case, Meyer said he hopes other people realize that if you feel uncomfortable or believe you have been abused, "go with your gut" and reach out to someone.

"Call our office. That is what we do, help people who are in this situation," Meyer said. "That's what caused a lot of these women to advocate. It wasn't until a few came forward or they reported what had happened to other doctors."

Meyer said that he often sees accountability come in the form of more accusers after media reports surface about a doctor abusing their privileges — "and that's a good thing because it makes it harder for the doctor to cover it up and to deny."

"I've been dealing with sexual abuse cases by doctors and others for years now, and everybody thinks they're the only one," according to Meyer.

"As soon as it gets exposure, we hear from 10, 20, 30 people who were subjected to the same kind of abuse ... It's never just one."