Prominent Boston Doctor Indicted on Rape Charges Amid Abuse Allegations

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — Dr. Derrick Todd, a former rheumatologist and primary care physician, has been indicted on two counts of rape following allegations of sexual assault during medical examinations. The charges stem from incidents in December 2022 and June 2023 at Charles River Medical Associates in Framingham, where Todd practiced before resigning in July 2023.

Prosecutors allege Todd assaulted two women during routine medical exams, including one instance where a patient screamed in pain during a pap smear. Todd pleaded not guilty during a Friday court appearance, and Judge Michael A. Sullivan set bail at $10,000 cash. Sullivan also ordered Todd to surrender his medical licenses and refrain from practicing medicine or contacting his alleged victims.

Court documents reveal disturbing details of the alleged assaults. In one case, Todd reportedly ignored a patient’s pleas to stop during a 15-minute examination. Another patient claimed Todd pressured her into pelvic floor therapy, despite her lack of symptoms, and performed the procedure without her consent during a pap smear. “Nothing is more important to Charles River Medical Associates than the health and safety of the patients who receive care at our practice,” a spokesperson said in a statement.

More than 200 women and several men have come forward with allegations against Todd, accusing him of inappropriate questioning and medically unnecessary exams. Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital, where Todd also practiced, terminated him in July 2023 after an internal investigation into anonymous complaints. The hospital reported Todd to law enforcement and offered support to affected patients.

“We are deeply distressed to learn of the depth and breadth of Todd’s alleged abuse,” Brigham and Women’s said in a statement. “We recognize the incredible courage it has taken for all patients who have come forward to ensure that this conduct was exposed.”

Todd’s attorney was not immediately available for comment. The case has sparked widespread concern over patient safety and the mechanisms in place to prevent abuse in medical settings.