NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Atlanta, GA, November 24, 2024: Rajesh Motibhai Patel, a primary care physician at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Decatur, Georgia, has been found guilty by a federal jury of violating a patient’s constitutional right to bodily integrity and engaging in unwanted sexual contact. The conviction follows an eight-day trial.
The jury determined that Patel, 69, of Lilburn, Georgia, violated one of his female patients during a routine exam between 2019 and 2020 by improperly groping her breasts and touching her vaginal area. He was acquitted of charges related to three other female patients.
“Dr. Patel violated the cardinal rule of a physician to do no harm,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Veterans trusted him for treatment, and he betrayed that trust. This conviction provides a measure of healing for those impacted.”
Inspector General Michael J. Missal of the Department of Veterans Affairs emphasized the importance of holding perpetrators accountable. “Acts of violence against veterans in VA facilities are reprehensible and shatter trust. We remain committed to ensuring the safety of veterans receiving care.”
The investigation was conducted by the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin N. Spritzer and Jennifer Keen prosecuted the case.
Patel is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge William M. Ray, II, on February 20, 2025, at 1:30 p.m.
