Civil lawsuit begins in claims of sexual abuse by former patients at Children’s Hospital of Virginia

The testimony began in a civil lawsuit against a Virginia hospital that treats vulnerable children, its owner and former medical director in a lawsuit filed by three former patients who claim they were inappropriately touched during physical exams.

The suit names Cumberland Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Universal Health Services and Dr. Daniel Davidow, the hospital’s longtime medical director, as defendants.

A total of 46 former New Kent County Hospital patients are suing for $930 million. In the first case, three patients allege that Davidow inappropriately touched them during femoral pulse examinations. Davidow was acquitted of sexual abuse charges against two other former patients after a criminal trial in April.

WTVR-TV reports that last Wednesday, during the first day of testimony in the civil case, psychotherapist Kent Radwani testified that while leading a group therapy session in 2016, a female patient said she was abused during an exam physically at the hospital. Radwani said another patient then spoke up and said she had a similar experience. When the group asked how many had similar experiences, an estimated 11 out of 12 girls in the group said they had been abused, Radwani testified.

Kevin Biniazan, a lawyer for the former patients, pressed Radwani for details about how the patients described the alleged abuse. Radwani said some claimed Davidow fondled them, touched them inappropriately and inserted his finger into their vaginas.

In opening statements, Davidow’s attorney, Bob Donnelly, said Davidow “unequivocally denies” the allegations of sexual assault against him. Donnelly said the femoral pulse exam performed by Davidow dates back to the 1960s and 1970s and is a “standard exam.”

Donnelly said Davidow tried to make patients feel more comfortable by having female companions by keeping the patients dressed and narrating the exam.

Universal Health Services attorney Joe Farchione disputed the plaintiffs’ argument that patients were being kept at the hospital for profit. He presented a medical record indicating a serious health condition for one of the applicants.

“The crux of this case is actually the examination. If you don’t find any sexual assault, then you don’t get to other issues of the case,” Farchione said.

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