More than 10 years ago, Christine Fritz was suffering from spinal pain and her doctor at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston recommended that she see a rheumatologist.
For the 37-year-old New Hampshire woman, her visit with Dr. Derrick Todd started out normally. But as Todd told her more, he began to aggressively grope her breasts, “and he seemed to be enjoying it a little too much,” she said.
When she finally got word from the hospital about Todd last year, she realized she had crossed a line. And she wasn’t alone.
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“I feel very violated,” she told The Associated Press. “I’m so embarrassed that I didn’t really know what to do right now and thought, oh, this was wrong, I need to tell someone.”
The Associated Press does not typically identify potential victims of sexual abuse, but Fritz gave permission to use her name. She is one of more than 200 women and several men who joined the consolidated lawsuit against Todd in Suffolk Superior Court in Massachusetts.
The suit, a compilation of several lawsuits filed last year, accuses Todd of subjecting patients to unnecessary pelvic floor therapy, breast exams, testicular exams and rectal exams.
Christine Fritz, a plaintiff in the lawsuit against Dr. Derrick Todd, is seen in Portsmouth, New Hampshire on April 8, 2024. Fritz and more than 200 other women have accused Todd of sexually abusing them by subjecting them to unnecessary pelvic and breast exams while under his care. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
The court alleges that Todd, a former rheumatologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital who specializes in treating inflammatory conditions of muscles, joints and bones, began abusing patients in 2010. It also charged dozens of other defendants, including Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital and Charles River. That medical personnel knew about the abuse and failed to stop it.
“The number of people who placed their trust in Dr. Todd and had that trust violated solely for personal and selfish gratification is extraordinary,” said William Thompson of Boston-based Rubin & Meyer. He said he represents the majority of the people.
“Another question about this incident is how could something suspicious have been going on at the hospital or at the practice group for so long without anyone noticing? ” he continued. “Yet they allowed him to continue this behavior with more victims week after week, month after month, year after year.”
Todd’s attorney, Anthony Abern, said his client “does not intend to litigate this matter in the media, but intends to protect his care as the case progresses in Massachusetts Superior Court.”
In April 2023, Brigham and Women’s received two anonymous complaints about Todd and began an internal investigation. Todd was told he could not undergo the sensitive test without an escort. He was placed on administrative leave in June and fired a month later. The hospital said it has also notified the Department of Public Health, the State Board of Medical Registration, law enforcement, and current and former patients.
In September, Todd entered into a voluntary agreement with the Pharmaceutical Registration Board to cease practicing medicine anywhere in the country. No criminal charges have been filed against Todd, but several former patients have been interviewed by law enforcement.
The Boston Globe reported last year that Todd was under investigation by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. A spokeswoman for the firm said it would not comment on the matter.
“We are deeply troubled by these upsetting allegations of harmful conduct by Dr. Todd,” the hospital said in a statement. “We take our obligation to care for our patients and protect their safety very seriously. We have and will continue to respond to any allegations of misconduct, such as in this case. We will act resolutely.”
Charles River Medical Associates said it had not been made aware of any complaints of “inappropriate conduct” by Todd and had contacted patients to report concerns.
“We are deeply troubled and saddened by these disturbing allegations and recognize the courage it took for our patients to come forward,” the agency said in a statement.
Mr Thompson said the victims ranged in age from teenagers to women in their 60s. The lawsuit claimed that Todd earned their trust and would go beyond treating their rheumatic diseases and become their only physician while performing invasive and unnecessary tests.
Among them was a 33-year-old Massachusetts woman who was struggling to find a doctor during the COVID-19 pandemic. She was thrilled that Todd called to help her with symptoms of tingling and numbness in her arms and hands.
The lawsuit alleges that Todd became her doctor and gynecologist for more than two years and became abusive, including repeatedly performing vaginal exams during medical appointments. She said Todd regularly commented on her body, demanded that she strip naked and made sure she was unaccompanied during her exams.
The woman, who reported Todd to the medical board after discussing Todd’s behavior with her gynecologist and realizing something was wrong, said: “Honestly, it affected every element of my life. That’s what gave me all my confidence,” he said.
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She said “a weight was lifted off my chest” after learning there were so many others and that Todd would no longer practice medicine. However, she is having a hard time coping. “Just thinking about work is so hard,” she says. “I’m really, really, still struggling today, really.”
As for Fritz, he admitted it was an experience he’ll never forget. However, she is comforted by the fact that Todd has already paid the price for his actions.
Fritz said of Todd: “You were a trusted medical professional at a world-class facility. You abused and violated so many patients. That’s not right.” “To me, justice means he can never do something like this again. He can never do something like this to a woman or any other patient.”
