In December 2019, our firm filed two lawsuits against Swedish Covenant on behalf of former female patients who allege they were sexually abused by gynecologist Fabio Ortega. Ortega has since been indicted for sexually abusing two other patients while he was an OBGYN at NorthShore University HealthSystem.
According to one woman's complaint:
During every appointment, he engaged in the following behavior, disguised as a medically necessary exam, in ways including but not limited to:
a. Ortega touched her vagina;
b. He inserted his fingers into her vagina;
c. Ortega would cause her extreme pain when he inserted his fingers inside of her.
d. When she told Ortega that he was hurting her, he would compare his fingers to her husband’s penis with comments like, “I am sure you’ve had bigger down there,” and then proceed to shove his fingers deeper into her vagina;
e. After he removed his fingers from her vagina, he would linger over her, then remove his gloves and touch the inside of her thigh with his bare hand;
f. During most appointments, he would grope her breasts “to check for lumps,” even though she never complained to about her breasts;
g. During most appointments, she would ask to hear her baby’s heartbeat but he would dismiss her request and say, “Everything is fine.”
According to a second woman's complaint:
During every single visit, Ortega would engage in the following behavior disguised as medically necessary exams:
a. Ortega would first instruct her lay down and open her legs;
b. Next, He would touch her clitoris with his ungloved fingers;
c. Then, would he would tell her to “just relax,” as he inserted his ungloved fingers into her vagina;
d. Then, he would instruct her to “squeeze my fingers;”
e. Then, he would stand closely over her, between her open legs, as he took notes, in an effort to disguise his sexual assault as a medically necessary exam.
NorthShore has also been sued by six (6) women who allege Ortega sexually assaulted them under the guise of providing proper medical care at Evanston Hospital, and his clinics in Skokie and Lincolnwood, Illinois.
These two patients will return to court once the courthouse reopens following the coronavirus pandemic. NorthShore has claimed in recent filings that it is not liable for Ortega's behavior, despite having knowledge of patient complaints and continuing to allow him to practice without unfettered access to trusting female patients.
