Ryan K. Buchanan, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia
Rajesh Motibhai Patel, a physician at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Atlanta, has been sentenced to two years in federal prison. He was found guilty of violating a patient's constitutional right to bodily integrity and committing abusive sexual contact. The charges stem from an incident during a routine medical exam in January 2020, where Patel unlawfully touched a female veteran patient.
Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr., stated, "Patel used his position of trust as a VA physician to sexually assault his female veteran patient who had honorably served our country." He emphasized that the sentence aims to prevent future harm to veterans seeking care at the VA.
Special Agent in Charge David Spilker from the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Southeast Field Office commented on the case: "This sentence holds Dr. Patel accountable for the vile acts he committed while serving as a VA physician." He highlighted that such acts against veterans are reprehensible and undermine trust in VA facilities.
The court heard that during what should have been a standard medical examination, Patel violated the victim's consent by touching her breast and vaginal area without any legitimate medical reason. The jury found him guilty on November 5, 2024.
Patel, aged 69 and residing in Lilburn, Georgia, will serve two years in prison followed by 15 years of supervised release. During this period, he is prohibited from practicing medicine.
The investigation was conducted by the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorneys Erin N. Spritzer and Jennifer Keen prosecuted the case.
For more information, contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office via email at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or phone at (404) 581-6280. Further details can be found on their website: http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
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