Doc Accused of Groping Woman on Flight; Ob/Gyn Threatened in Prison; Equal Pay Suit

Georgia doctor Jake Cho, MD, has been charged with abusive sexual contact after being accused of groping a woman’s butt and thighs as he “slept” on a flight in March. (Charlotte Observer)

Robert Hadden, MD, the gynecologist who was convicted of molesting hundreds of patients over decades, has faced threats and extortion in a federal jail, his lawyers said as they asked for a shorter prison sentence. (AP)

Dharmesh Patel, MD, the California radiologist accused of purposely driving his Tesla off a cliff in an attempt to kill his family, has been “barred” from practicing medicine by the California Medical Board. (Mercury News)

Prominent surgeon James Luketich, MD, who came under investigation over controversial surgical practices, will step down as the head of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s department of cardiothoracic surgery at the end of the month. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Alaska physician Richard McGrath, DO, will serve 2 years in prison for sexually assaulting 3 women. (Alaska’s News Source)

The case against Grant Robicheaux, MD, and his girlfriend Cerissa Riley — who both had been accused of drugging and raping multiple women — has been pared back to focus on two women, down from seven. The women believed they had been drugged before waking up at Robicheaux’s home, and believed attempts were made to sexually assault them. Defense attorneys described Robicheaux and Riley as “swingers” who had consensual sex and used drugs with other women and have denied any wrongdoing. (Mercury News)

Sudeshna Chatterjee-Paer, MD, has sued her former employer, Pennsylvania-based Jefferson Abington Hospital, claiming that it paid female physicians unfairly and permitted sexist behavior. The gynecologic oncologist claimed that when she was hired, she was offered a salary of $280,000 that she negotiated up to $315,000 — but 2 years later, the hospital hired a male gynecologic oncologist at an annual salary that was $80,000 higher than hers, even though he had fewer credentials and was not board-certified. Another male gynecologic oncologist was hired at an annual salary of $400,000 and had fewer clinical responsibilities and no subspecialty training, she alleged. (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Wisconsin pediatrician Joseph Poterucha, DO, has reached a plea deal in a child sexual assault case. Prosecutors alleged that two young girls claimed Poterucha touched them inappropriately on multiple occasions. Sentencing is scheduled for July 31. (WEAU 13)

North Carolina cardiologist Hari Saini, MD, and his practice Carolina Heart and Leg Center, will pay about $5 million to resolve allegations that they performed unnecessary atherectomies to remove minor plaque blockages in patients’ leg arteries, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina.

A young Florida woman has been arrested for threatening in a social media post to “blow up” a children’s hospital. (Local 10)

Colorado doctor Howard Weiss, MD, was sentenced to 6 months in prison and will pay nearly $1 million in fines and restitution for illegally prescribing drugs, including stimulants and sedatives, that may have contributed to patients’ deaths. (CBS Colorado)

California physician Dzung Ahn Pham, DO, was sentenced to more than 12.5 years in prison for illegally prescribing opioids and other narcotics to people who he knew were addicts, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.