CHARLESTON – A 25-year-old Boone County woman says a doctor sexually assaulted her while she was unconscious during a medical procedure.
T.W., whose initials are being used to protect her identity, filed a lawsuit April 5 in Kanawha Circuit Court against Dr. Steven R. Matulis and Charleston Gastroenterology Associates PLLC, alleging battery, tort of outrage and negligent retention.
According to the complaint, while T.W. was under anesthesia for a colonoscopy on Feb. 16, she claims the defendant groped and fondled her body. The suit claims other personnel at the Charleston Area Medical Center, where the procedure took place, observed his actions and reported him to administrators.
The hospital has since revoked Matulis’ privileges to practice, the suit says. T.W. claims the defendant allegedly had a prior record of similar patient abuse, which the hospital should have known about.
T.W. seeks a jury trial and punitive and compensatory damages. She is represented by attorney Ben Salango of Preston & Salango PLLC in Charleston.
Judge Jennifer F. Bailey is assigned to the case.
Kanawha Circuit Court Case number 16-C-497