Houston Defense Attorney For Doctor Sex Crimes

Sex crime allegations against a physician can destroy careers. Even if they are unfounded, a doctor’s reputation is on the line if they are accused or charged with an offense such as rape or sexual assault. If you or a loved one are a doctor accused of a sex offense, having an experienced Houston sex crime defense attorney is crucial.

The Law Offices of Ned Barnett are here to help you protect your career and avoid the harsh penalties of a sex crime conviction. Contact us for a confidential consultation at (713) 222-6767 to learn how to defend yourself and clear your name.

Houston Lawyer for Doctors Accused of Sex Crimes

Allegations related to groping, sexual misconduct, rape, inappropriate touching, sexual assault, and other sex offenses involving medical professionals are far more common than you might think.

You need an aggressive and experienced sex crimes attorney in Houston to help you avoid accusations from minors, those suffering from mental incapacities, individuals with psychiatric disabilities, possible extortion, and those suffering from extreme drug addictions.

The Law Offices of Ned Barnett will be by your side to help you handle the investigation, gather valuable evidence to support your case, and prepare to defend you when you are facing criminal charges. Do not hesitate. Your practice and livelihood are on the line.

Texas Sex Crime Charges Against Doctors

Healthcare providers are often seen as trusted members of society. After all, physicians must conduct physical exams to check for, diagnose, and treat medical conditions.

While most healthcare providers remain professional, many engage in improper conduct. There are multiple sex offenses doctors could be accused of and criminally charged with. Here are the most common sexual allegations made against doctors in Texas:

Sexual Assault

Sexual assault occurs when a physician or other healthcare provider appropriately touches their patients. These allegations often happen when a physician conducts a physical exam and the victim argues that unnecessary and inappropriate touching occurred.

Sexual Harassment

Physicians can also be held accountable if they are accused and found guilty of sexual harassment. Sexual harassment claims are more common in healthcare facilities where physicians are charged with using their position of power to harass nurses, other office or hospital employees, or patients.

Quid pro quo claims of sexual harassment can occur when physicians are accused of attempting to coerce an employee or patient into sexual activity in exchange for a pay increase, free treatment, or access to specific types of prescription medications.

Lack of Informed Consent

Before conducting any physical examination, physicians must obtain the patient’s informed consent. Not only do patients have a right to be informed about the type of exam, but they should also be notified about which parts of the body will be touched. Doctors should ensure patients fully understand what the examination, treatment, or other medical interventions entail. However, when a physician fails to obtain informed consent, they can be held accountable civilly and charged criminally.

Other Charges Doctors Could Face

Other types of potential sex crime offenses doctors could be accused of committing include:

• Sexual battery
• Child sex crimes
• Sexual abuse
• Engaging in sexual relations with a patient
• Indecent exposure
• Lewd acts with a minor
• Sexual penetration with a foreign object
• Improper touching for sexual gratification
• Statutory rape
• Rape
• Oral copulation
• Lewd and lascivious conduct

Physicians who engage in sexual relationships with their patients may not always face criminal charges. However, that does not mean such behavior will not have consequences. Many physicians may find their medical license on the line if they are accused of sexual relations with a patient.

Criminal Sex Crime Penalties for Doctors

Doctors accused of sex crimes are often charged in criminal court. If convicted, physicians could face a wide range of penalties, including the following:

• Time in Texas county jail or state prison
• Fines and restitution to alleged victims
• Registration as a sex offender
• Participation in court-ordered group therapy or mental health counseling
• Completion of a rehabilitation treatment program

Medical License Consequences

Not only can healthcare providers and physicians face criminal charges, but they could also lose their medical licenses. The state licensing board may not discipline doctors if the charges against them are dismissed or acquitted. This is partially because witnesses are often unwilling to be deposed or offer testimony as part of the medical review board’s investigation.

If the physician is found guilty of sexual assault or other sex crimes, the board may be more willing to suspend or revoke their medical license. However, by introducing evidence to prove your innocence, it is not unheard of for the medical licensing board to allow you to continue to practice. Your defense attorney can help you protect your professional medical license and return to your life.

Civil Liability

It is also possible to face civil liability through a medical malpractice claim or personal injury lawsuit. Your medical malpractice insurance does not cover criminal acts by a physician. But that does not mean the alleged victims in your case cannot file a civil lawsuit seeking maximum compensation for their damages.

Working with your sex crimes defense lawyer is the best way to clear your name in criminal court and with the licensing board, which could be helpful if the alleged victims decide to pursue a civil claim.

What Should Doctors Do if They’re Accused of a Sex Crime?

If you are a physician accused of committing a sex offense, you can take steps to protect your reputation and future:

• Contact a sex crime defense attorney in Houston.
• Never give a statement to investigators without an attorney.
• Make sure to understand the extent of the charges against you.
• Obtain essential legal documents or other helpful supporting evidence.
• Consider your legal options, including reducing your charges to a lesser offense, maintaining your medical license, and entering a plea.
• Never contact the alleged victim to try to clear up the matter.

Doctor Sex Crime Defenses

Your attorney is here to help you determine how to avoid the criminal penalties and collateral consequences of a sex crime conviction. The best way to protect yourself is by taking steps to prevent the likelihood of baseless patient allegations.

For example, doctors should:

• Have a strict informed consent policy.
• Always obtain the patient’s written permission for exams and treatment.
• Obtain your patience oral consent before any physical examination.

It will be crucial for your doctor sex crime defense lawyer to carefully examine the evidence in your case to determine which defenses will produce the most favorable outcome. Often, allegations of medical sexual assault or misconduct occur when a patient does not clearly understand the procedure and mistakes procedural touching for inappropriate sexual conduct.

We’ll be ready to question the credibility of witnesses and the evidence produced against you to avoid the fallout of a conviction. Some common defenses used to challenge doctor sex crime accusations include:

• You had consent for a valid medical procedure.
• The claims are the result of blackmail or extortion.
• The allegations of sexual misconduct or abuse are false.
• The actions were medically appropriate.

You can rely on your defense lawyer to help you navigate every aspect of the accusations against you. This includes handling any criminal charges you are facing, helping protect your professional license, and preventing your reputation from destruction.

You can also protect yourself by utilizing your Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. You can learn more about how to approach your defense best after you speak with your attorney about the specific details of your case.

Doctor Sex Crime Defense FAQs

Physicians accused of sex crimes may have many questions that must be answered. The Law Offices of Ned Barnett has answered some of the most frequently asked questions regarding sex crime defenses and criminal penalties below. If you have additional questions, do not hesitate to get in touch to discuss your concerns in detail.

What Does Lack of Consent Mean?

Under sex crime laws, lack of consent means that the alleged victim did not consent to sexual activity or could not consent due to age, impaired state, or cognitive or developmental disabilities.

Will I Have to Register as a Sex Offender?

If you are found guilty in a Texas criminal court of any sex crime as a doctor, you will likely be required to register as a sex offender. The amount of time you will need to register as a sex offender can vary based on the specific factors of your case.

Can I Use a Public Defender?

You have the option of using a public defender if you choose. However, since public defense attorneys are overworked and overloaded by substantial caseloads, your defense may not get the attention it deserves if you choose a public defender.

Can Sex Crime Charges Be Reduced?

By working with the prosecuting attorney, the sex crime charges against you could be reduced to a less severe offense based on the specific details of your case. This could go a long way in helping avoid some of the more severe consequences of a criminal conviction and protect your medical license and future career opportunities.

Are You a Doctor Accused of Sexual Assault? Call Today

Time is of the essence to challenge the accusations against you. With severe criminal penalties and collateral consequences on the line, doctors facing sexual offense charges need aggressive and experienced legal advocacy as soon as possible.

Attorney Ned Barnett is a respected Houston criminal defense attorney practicing in the Houston area for over 30 years. His experiences as a state and federal prosecutor and more than 20 years as a defense attorney make him one of the most highly sought-after defense lawyers for sexual assault and other crimes in and around Houston.

Attorney Ned Barnett has multiple achievements and accolades, including:

• A Board Certified criminal attorney by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1994
• Being selected for inclusion in Super Lawyers from 2015 to 2018
• Being a part of the American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys, part of the American Institute of Legal Counsel in 2015 and 2016

The Law Offices of Ned Barnett have successfully defended against various criminal charges. Some of the most notable cases we won include:

• Aggravated sexual assault of a child dismissed in Orange County
• Possession of child porn dismissed in Harris County
• Sexual assault of a child dismissed in Harris County

Contact Attorney Barnett Right Away

When you are a physician or healthcare provider charged with a sex offense, you could face severe criminal consequences and jeopardize your career.

Protect your reputation and avoid the devastating penalties of the guilty verdict when you contact a dedicated Houston defense attorney for doctor sex crimes at the Law Offices of Ned Barnett. Complete our secured contact form or call our office at (713) 222-6767 to schedule your confidential consultation as soon as today.