A liver doctor accused of using his position to sexually assault patients for decades attempted to shield his face from cameras after posting $1.5 million bail.
Dr. John Hoefs, 79, is accused of groping dozens of patients since 2006 at UCI Medical Center and a clinic at Hoag Memorial Presbyterian Hospital in Southern California.
The hepatologist covered his face with his hand as he left Orange County Superior Court in Newport Beach on Wednesday with his wife and daughter, who aggressively tried to block the cameras.
Hoefs, who lives in Irvine, was previously released from jail after posting $500,000 bail in May, but was arrested again after more charges were filed.
He has pleaded not guilty to 17 counts of sexual assault by fraud and three felony counts of sexual assault.
Dr. John Hoefs, 79, is accused of groping more than a dozen patients since 2006 at UCI Medical Center and a clinic at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Southern California.
The doctor was accompanied by his daughter and his wife, who tried to block the cameras.
Hoefs is accused of demanding that his patients strip naked and show their breasts even though he was examining their livers.
One of the alleged victims claimed that Hoefs touched her breasts during five separate appointments that began in 2020 and were intended to treat a liver condition.
The woman claims she tried to cover herself with a robe, but Hoefs pulled it down to expose her chest.
Hoefs has also been sued by 15 other women who claim the doctor assaulted them.
The second alleged victim says Hoefs touched her breasts while examining her in 2016 and again in 2017.
Hoefs has also been sued by 15 other women who claim the doctor forced them to expose their breasts and in many cases groped them under the pretext of receiving medical treatment.
A woman alleged in the lawsuit, filed in August, that Hoefs claimed he was “palping her liver” while touching her breasts and noted that he was aroused, the court reported. Los Angeles Times.
“Many of the patients who were sexually abused by Hoefs were fighting for their lives against aggressive forms of liver cancer and hepatitis at the time they sought treatment,” according to the lawsuit.
“When, in return, Hoefs brutally violated that trust to sexually abuse these extremely vulnerable patients.”
One woman claims she showed Hoefs a photo of a bruise to ask for advice, but he said he “didn’t have time to look at pictures unless they were of her in a bikini.”
The doctor’s family supports him Wednesday after he posted bail.
Hoefs, who lives in Irvine, was previously released from jail after posting $500,000 bail in May, but was arrested again after more charges were filed.
The lawsuit also names Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian and the Regents of the University of California.
The LA Times and the lawsuit claim that Hoefs was repeatedly reported in online forums and to the Medical Board of California, but was not detained until his arrest in May.
The Medical Board of California suspended Hoefs’ medical license and UCI Medical Center and Hoag Memorial ended their relationship with the doctor following his arrest.
Hoag has claimed that Hoefs never worked for them.
“Like many other doctors in private practice, Dr. Hoefs rented office space in a building owned by Hoag,” they said in a statement.
“Upon learning of his arrest, Hoag’s medical staff immediately suspended his hospital privileges and Hoag suspended access to his rented space.”
