Sexual assault charges against an Ohio doctor put patient safety in the spotlight
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Placing the trust of your life in the hands of a total stranger is a tall order, even for the patient blessed with fortitude. … As physicians, we should never betray that trust or forget the honor and privilege of receiving that trust.
—Chandrakanth Are, MBBS, MBA, FRCS, FACS
A criminal case unfolding in Ohio is raising difficult but important questions about patient trust, professional boundaries, and the systems meant to protect patients when misconduct allegations arise.
Ali Ghasemzadeh, MD, a Brown County, OH, cardiologist, has been charged with rape, sexual battery, and gross sexual imposition in connection with allegations that he sexually assaulted two patients during medical examinations.[]
Related: Massachusetts rheumatologist accused of assaulting over a dozen patientsHis attorney has said he “absolutely, unequivocally denies” the allegations.[] His state medical license was summarily suspended, and a former patient has filed a civil lawsuit alleging sexual abuse during a medical exam.[][]
Authorities have said additional potential victims came forward after his arrest, and the investigation remains ongoing.[]
What happened?
One patient alleged that Dr. Ghasemzadeh sexually assaulted her with an ultrasound probe during an appointment.[]
Another complaint involved allegations of inappropriate touching during a cardiac examination in 2025. A former patient has since filed a civil lawsuit; she is seeking to proceed under a pseudonym to protect her privacy.
The State Medical Board of Ohio suspended Ghasemzadeh’s license following the allegations. According to reporting on the case, the board concluded there was clear and convincing evidence supporting emergency action and determined that his continued practice presented a danger of immediate and serious harm to the public.[]
The criminal allegations have not been proven in court, and Dr. Ghasemzadeh has denied them. But the case has already expanded beyond a criminal proceeding into questions about civil liability and whether others responsible for overseeing a physician knew—or should have known—about potential concerns.
Patients may not immediately recognize or report misconduct
One of the most challenging aspects of alleged abuse in a healthcare setting is the power imbalance. Patients generally assume that physicians know what is medically necessary. They may feel embarrassed about asking questions. They may wonder whether they misunderstood an examination or procedure. Some may not report an experience until much later—or until they learn that another patient had a similar experience.
That means doctors and healthcare organizations should take reports seriously, even when a complaint initially seems vague or unusual.
The instinct to immediately defend a colleague or explain away a patient’s concern can be dangerous. A better approach is to ensure the patient is heard, document the report appropriately, protect the patient from further potential harm, and follow established reporting and investigation procedures.
And for the physician receiving a complaint about another clinician, this is not the moment for informal hallway fact-finding. Follow institutional policy and applicable reporting requirements.
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Every medical practice should be prepared for the possibility that a patient raises concerns about inappropriate conduct by a clinician or staff member.
That means knowing in advance:
Who receives and documents the complaint?
How is the patient’s immediate safety addressed?
Who determines whether the accused clinician should continue seeing patients during an investigation?
What reporting obligations apply?
How are medical records and other potentially relevant information preserved?
Who communicates with the patient?
How are other potentially affected patients identified when appropriate?
These are uncomfortable questions. But a practice trying to invent the answers after receiving a serious allegation is already behind.
Related: Florida physician arrested for sexual battery: Addressing rumors of assault in healthcare settingsTrust is built in the small moments
Most doctors will never face allegations remotely resembling those in this case. But every physician participates in the same basic trust relationship.
Patients allow clinicians into profoundly personal spaces because they believe the care has a legitimate medical purpose and that professional boundaries will be respected.
“Placing the trust of your life in the hands of a total stranger is a tall order, even for the patient blessed with fortitude. But that is exactly what happens on a daily basis in our field, and we are so fortunate to be the people patients place their trust in. … As physicians, we should never betray that trust or forget the honor and privilege of receiving that trust,” wrote Chandrakanth Are, MBBS, MBA, FRCS, FACS.[]
The takeaway is not to make every encounter feel defensive or legalistic. Instead, make the patient feel informed and respected.
Explain what you’re doing and why, ask permission when appropriate, offer a chaperone according to policy, pause when a patient seems uncomfortable, and make it clear they can ask questions or decline an examination.
Those habits are good medicine regardless of specialty. And in a case like this one, they are a reminder of what is ultimately at stake when the physician-patient relationship is alleged to have been exploited: not just one patient’s trust in one doctor, but the confidence patients place in the profession as a whole.
Related: 3 factors that erode your patients’ trust