Under a recently introduced bill at the Georgia General Assembly, physicians who sexually assault a patient would face a required license suspension or revocation, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Rep. Scott Holcomb, D-Ga., introduced the bill, which would also require Georgia healthcare workers to report physicians who have been known to abuse patients. "My opinion is that any doctor who commits a sexual assault on a patient should at a minimum be suspended and probably should be a candidate for revocation," Mr. Holcomb said.
Mr. Holcomb expressed concern at whether the Georgia Composite Medical Board takes decisive action when determining discipline a physician in a sex abuse case. "Part of that is because the board's process is somewhat opaque and part of that is because the board in the past used to resort to sending doctors for treatment and hope that would solve the problem," he said.
A 2016 investigation conducted by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution found the Georgia medical board regularly allowed physicians who sexually violated patients to stay in practice, while also using private actions in some cases involving sexual misconduct. The report also found Georgia does not require physicians to report colleagues they know have engaged in sexual abuse.
"I have received several communications from doctors who recognize a need for this legislative action," Mr. Holcomb said. "What is clear to me is that this issue goes beyond the harm to the individual — which is significant. There is also a societal impact that occurs when these crimes happen. What I want to do is address it when it occurs and just as importantly send a strong message that this type of behavior will not be tolerated in the state of Georgia."