A California doctor specializing in LGBTQ+ patient care faces charges of sexually assaulting nine men through his practice, according to prosecutors.
Dr. William Thompson IV, a 56-year-old infectious disease doctor, is accused of sexually battery, forcible oral copulation, and sexual penetration under false pretenses with nine patients who reported being assaulted between 2016 and 2020, prosecutors revealed.
Orange County District Attorney’s Office
“Dr. Thompson exploited the vulnerabilities of his patients, who relied on him for life-saving care, for his own sexual gratification,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer.
Thompson’s website, now offline, advertised his role as a “General Practitioner serving the LGBTQ Community,” with a focus on HIV treatment, and he held an affiliation with Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian.
Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian did not provide immediate comment in response to HuffPost’s request.
Prosecutors stated that six former patients of Thompson accused him of sexual assault after discovering that the procedures performed on them were unnecessary.
Thompson was arrested on September 20 following an investigation by the California Department of Consumer Affairs and the Newport Beach Police Department.
According to a criminal complaint obtained by HuffPost, some of Thompson’s former patients believed the “sexual penetration served a professional purpose” at the time, while one patient claimed to have been unconscious during the assault.
Thompson has yet to enter a plea and was released on $100,000 bond after his arrest. He is scheduled to appear in court on November 2.
If convicted on all charges, Thompson could face a maximum sentence of 30 years to life in prison, along with an additional 25 years.
“A doctor’s office should be a place where patients can safely share their most personal vulnerabilities without having to fear they will be preyed upon by a sexual predator,” Spitzer commented. “No one should be violated in such a shameful way by someone who has taken an oath to protect their patients.”
Law enforcement officials are urging the public to come forward with any additional information about Thompson’s practice, and potential victims can contact the Newport Beach Police Department at 949-644-3682 or make an anonymous tip at 1-800-550-6273.
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