An Atlanta physician who served at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Decatur, Georgia, Dr. Rajesh Motibhai Patel, has been convicted on charges of the sexual assault of a female veteran patient. The case, which concluded after an eight-day trial, saw the jury find Patel guilty of violating a patient’s constitutional right to bodily integrity while acting under color of law.
In remarks published by the
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia
, U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan commented on the gravity of Patel’s actions, stating, “Dr. Patel violated the cardinal rule of a physician to do no harm to patients under his care.” Buchanan added, “Veterans who consulted him for treatment, like the victim in this case, trusted Dr. Patel and he violated that trust. His conviction hopefully provides a measure of healing for those impacted by his crimes.”
Dr. Patel, 69, faced allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior with four of his female patients between 2019 and 2020. Reports indicate that he groped their breasts and made improper contact with their vaginal areas during routine medical examinations. While the jury acquitted Patel of charges related to three of the victims, they found him guilty of violating the fourth.
Michael J. Missal, Inspector General for the Department of Veterans Affairs, emphasized the significance of the verdict. “The verdict is an important step in seeking justice for a sexual assault committed against a veteran seeking care at a VA medical center,” Missal said, and decried the violations as “acts of violence against veterans in VA facilities are reprehensible and shatters that trust.” Missal assured that their office, along with law enforcement partners, will persist in efforts to hold accountable those who commit such crimes against veterans, according to the
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia
.
Patel, who resides in Lilburn, Georgia, awaits sentencing scheduled for February 20, 2025, presided by U.S. District Judge William M. Ray, II. The investigation into these matters was conducted by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, and the case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin N. Spritzer and Jennifer Keen.
For further information and inquiries, the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office can be reached at their email address
[email protected]
or by phone at (404) 581-6016.
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