Ohio Medical Board to Act Faster in Sexual Abuse Cases

(The Center Square) – The Ohio Medical Board can intervene more quickly if a medical professional is accused of sexually abusing his patients.

Gov. Mike DeWine recently signed a new law that included recommendations from a 2019 task force created in 2019 to review the Medical Board’s handling of the six-year investigation into Ohio State University doctor Richard Strauss. .

“This bill represents a major step forward in our ongoing efforts as a state to better protect Ohio patients,” DeWine said. “It increases accountability for physicians, increases transparency for patients and the public, and gives our Medical Board the ability to intervene more quickly when misconduct occurs. Ultimately, this bill will empower more people to take action when something is wrong.”

Strauss, who died in 2005, worked for Ohio State from 1978 to 1998, treating students and student-athletes. He was accused in 2018 of sexually abusing student-athletes during his time at the university, leading to a year-long investigation by the school.

That investigation found that Strauss abused at least 177 male athletes, according to the university.

The new law requires, among other things, health care facilities and individual health care providers to report the initiation of a sexual misconduct investigation within 30 days. The board may also suspend a license if it receives verifiable information that an individual health care provider has been charged with a serious crime and the conduct constitutes a disciplinary infraction.

Additionally, the board may require a physician to notify patients in writing if they are on probation for sexual misconduct or patient harm, and the board may now provide a status update to a patient who reports a case of sexual misconduct. .

“At the same time, however, we knew we could do much more by removing some of the legal barriers that have historically prevented us from responding quickly and decisively to cases of misconduct in the past,” said Medical Board CEO, Stephanie Loucka. “We worked with the General Assembly, medical professionals and other partners across the state to help craft this bill and get it over the finish line. “