Allegations {that a} pioneering infectious-disease knowledgeable accused of sexually abusing sufferers used Hoag Hospital in Newport Seaside for what an lawyer for the accusers has referred to as a “sexual playground” have drawn the eye of two U.S. congressmen from Orange County who query whether or not any misconduct was the results of “systemic failures.”
Rep. Dave Min (D-Irvine) and Rep. Mike Levin (D-San Juan Capistrano), in a letter despatched late final month to Robert Braithwaite, the president and chief govt officer of Hoag Hospital, wrote that the allegations in opposition to Dr. William Moore Thompson IV are “deeply troubling and symbolize a severe breach of the belief sufferers place of their healthcare suppliers. …
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“Given that this hospital serves many of our constituents, our offices are requesting a detailed account of the actions your hospital has taken since these allegations were first brought to your attention,” Min and Levin wrote. “Past the rapid case, we’re deeply involved with the systemic failures that will have allowed such alleged habits to happen and persist.
“Looking ahead, we are eager to learn what proactive measures your hospital will be taking to prevent such incidents from ever happening again,” they mentioned.
The letter famous that Hoag Hospital receives “substantial support” from federal packages reminiscent of Medicare and Medicaid, and that it’s topic to oversight from businesses such because the U.S. Division of Well being and Human Providers, which “has a mandate to guard civil rights and guarantee affected person security inside healthcare. …
“We believe the misuse of federal funds and a failure to protect patients from harm would constitute a direct violation of that trust,” the congressmen added.
A reserving mug of Dr. William Moore Thompson IV. (Photograph by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
In a letter this week in response to the congressmen, Braithwaite wrote that “Hoag shares your commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of patients in our community and fully condemns the conduct alleged against Dr. William Thompson.”
The Hoag president mentioned the suggestion of systemic failures is “unfounded.”
Thompson, Braithwaite famous within the letter, operated a non-public observe, was by no means instantly employed by Hoag and was as a substitute “one of approximately 1,900 physicians on the independent medical staff of Hoag.”
“Nearly all the patient allegations of sexual assault against Dr. Thompson involve conduct that occurred in the physician’s private medical office or at his home, and not at any Hoag operated facility,” Braithwaite wrote. “The authorized duties of a hospital are nicely outlined and don’t prolong to conduct that happens exterior its services. …
“While we are limited in what we can share due to ongoing litigation, Hoag took immediate steps to protect patient safety, including cooperating fully with law enforcement and regulatory authorities,” he added.
Thompson made his title as a pioneer in caring for males dwelling with HIV and AIDS. He’s now going through allegations from greater than 150 people in almost two-dozen lawsuits that he sexually assaulted sufferers below the guise of medical checkups. Thompson can be going through felony sexual-assault costs, for which he has pleaded not responsible.
He misplaced his medical license, based on state information.
Thompson’s lawyer couldn’t be reached for remark.
Sufferers have alleged that Thompson carried out aggressive prostate exams with out gloves, fondled them whereas commenting on the looks of their genitalia, subjected them to sexual innuendo and advances and at occasions confirmed his personal erect penis to them throughout exams.
The felony case and civil lawsuits initially centered totally on Thompson’s alleged conduct with sufferers. However because the court docket has moved to consolidate the civil instances, attorneys for the accusers have taken goal at Hoag Hospital, the place Thompson had employees privileges and entry to sufferers from 2007 till after his arrest in late 2023.
In court docket filings, attorneys for the accusers have alleged that Thompson had sexual activity with Hoag nurses and “housekeeping” workers at Hoag Hospital, together with in employees locker rooms and loos. The attorneys have alleged that Thompson additionally engaged in “sexual talk and innuendo” with Hoag workers.
In a earlier interview, Morgan Stewart — an lawyer with Manly, Stewart & Finaldi, a high-profile, Irvine-based regulation agency specializing in sexual-abuse instances — alleged that Thompson “essentially treated the hospital as his own private sexual playground,” including that it was “a frat house environment.”
The attorneys for the accusers allege in court docket filings that Thompson’s “sexual misconduct” was “so blatant and overt that it is simply inconceivable that Hoag was not aware of the outrageous antics taking place within its own facility.”
A choose beforehand discovered that allegations in opposition to Thompson from greater than 100 of the accusers weren’t instantly linked to Hoag. The choose left the door open for the accusers’ attorneys to amend their allegations to doubtlessly tie them to the hospital.
Initially Printed: October 8, 2025 at 5:10 AM PDT
