Framingham doctor accused of giving bad medical care, sexual assault. What patients claim

FRAMINGHAM — More than 200 people — including a few men — throughout New England have accused a former local rheumatologist of medical negligence as well as sexual assault and battery, according to a consolidated lawsuit filed in the Suffolk County Superior Court.

A total of 206 people are accusing Dr. Derrick Todd, who practiced at Charles River Medical Associates in Framingham, among other medical centers, of performing inappropriate medical care, including pelvic floor therapy and breast, rectal, pelvic and, in some cases, testicular examinations. The consolidated action is a combination of lawsuits filed in Middlesex and Suffolk County late last year.

William Thompson, of Boston-based Lubin and Meyer, lead attorney for the plaintiffs, told the Daily News that attorneys are fighting for accountability from Todd and the medical system more broadly.

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"Both failed these patients in significant and devastating ways," Thompson said in a statement to the newspaper. "The higher-ups at the hospitals and medical office where he worked knew, or should have known, what was going on and should have put a stop to it long ago, before he was allowed to continue to see and harm more and more patients."

Besides Charles River Medical Associates, Todd practiced at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston and Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital in Jamaica Plain. He resigned from Brigham and Women's last July 31.

Framingham primary care site says it received no complaints about Dr. Todd

Following his resignation from the Boston hospitals, Charles River Medical notified Todd's patients that he was not seeing them for a period of three months, but allegedly did not inform them of the nature of the suspension, according to the suit.

In October, Charles River Medical Associates notified patients that Todd would no longer be seeing them.

In a statement to the Daily News, a spokesperson for Charles River Medical Associates wrote: "At no time, up until and including his last day at our Framingham office, did we receive, nor were we made aware of, any complaints about inappropriate conduct by Dr. Todd.

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"We are deeply troubled and saddened by these disturbing allegations and recognize the courage it took for these patients to come forward. Over the past several months, we have reached out to patients to provide them with an opportunity to report any concerns they have about care they received from Dr. Todd, and we remain committed to keeping these channels of communication open. It has always been our practice to immediately investigate any claims of impropriety and take necessary action to ensure the safety, well-being and trust of our patients and caregivers."

Charles River Medical Associates provides primary care physicians to residents throughout MetroWest. It has more than 30 locations in 11 communities, including Framingham, Holliston, Hudson, Marlborough, Millis, Natick, Northborough, Southborough, Sudbury, Wellesley and Westborough.

On Sept. 5, Todd signed a voluntary agreement to not practice medicine in Massachusetts or in any state in the U.S. That action does not constitute an admission of wrongdoing.

Court filings claim more than a decade of inappropriate medical care

According to the Board of Registration in Medicine's database, allegations include "lack of privileges at (a) health care facility, improper choice of treatment" and a non-specific gynecology-related allegation. According to court filings, Todd's actions took place as far back as 2011.

According to the civil complaint, Todd performed inappropriate exams and medical treatment for "his own personal and sexual gratification." He allegedly performed these medical examinations without a glove, lubricant or chaperone. In addition, the examinations were performed on patients who had no medical history to suggest they needed them.

The lawsuit also asserts that Todd would persuade patients into terminating existing doctor-patient relationships with other physicians; persuade patients to encourage their family members, including teenagers and people with no known rheumatologic condition, to come see him as patients; and provided his rheumatology patients with incorrect or false diagnoses and improper medical care.

Counsel representing Todd did not return requests for comment.

The initial master complaint was filed in March, and the more than 30 defendants have until May 21 to file a combined answer, with discovery set to begin later this year.

The case is being overseen by Suffolk County Associate Justice Anthony Campo.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Alleged malpractice victims file lawsuit against Framingham doctor