A federal judge denied the request for a new trial for former Great Neck urologist Darius Paduch, who was convicted in May for various sex crimes against his patients, according to court documents.
Paduch argued that his conviction was unconstitutional because “they relied on an underlying provision that was less serious,” which was a third-degree sexual abuse misdemeanor, court documents state. He asked for a new trial.
Judge Ronnie Abrams ruled against Paduch’s request for a new trial, saying the conviction was not unconstitutional just because it relied on this misdemeanor.
Dr. Darius Paduch, 57, worked at Northwell Health in Great Neck and Lake Success from 2019 until his arrest and subsequent termination in April 2023. He previously was employed at Weill Cornell Medicine in Manhattan for 16 years.
Paduch was convicted in May on six counts of inducement to travel to engage in unlawful sexual activity and five counts of inducing a minor to engage in sex.
His conviction was based upon multiple sex crimes he committed against patients, according to court documents, which included five minors and lasted over 12 years. For some patients, the abuse lasted over years.
“To carry out his abuse, Paduch informed his patients—many of whom traveled from New Jersey or Maryland—that they needed to provide a semen sample or “practice” masturbating.”
Abrams’ written decision to deny the trial states, “Rather than afford them privacy, Paduch would remain in the exam room or reenter it before patients had finished masturbating… He watched them masturbate as pornography played before using his own hands and vibrating devices to masturbate them… At times, Paduch failed to provide sample cups for patients’ ejaculate, commented on the appearance of their penises and masturbation techniques, and disclosed information about his own sexual activity.”
Paduch was a urologist who specialized in male infertility and reproductive health.
Trial evidence showed that the former doctor “knowingly persuaded, induced, enticed, or coerced patients to travel in interstate commerce to engage in unlawful sexual activity,” according to court documents.
He would also engage in unlawful sexual activity with minors over the phone and the internet.
Paduch would also masturbate his patients, which court documents state was not for medical purposes.
The former doctor was arrested and charged with these crimes in April 2023.
He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 22.
Hundreds of ex-patients, including minors at the time of the alleged offenses, have named him as a predator, which has resulted in several civil lawsuits in tandem with the federal conviction.
The federal conviction involves abuse that occurred from about 2007 to 2019, yet the multiple lawsuits claim it spanned more than two decades.
The lawsuits are being presented by multiple “John Does,” with one lawsuit including 58 anonymous minors and adults alleging abuse.
The hospitals are also being sued, accusing them of negligence. One suit says Weill Cornell Medicine was aware or should have been aware of the alleged abuse that was occurring.
Another lawsuit alleges the medical centers and their associated organizations – including Northwell Health – conspired with Paduch to shield the alleged abuse and sexual assault.
Allegations contend other healthcare employees were present in the room during some instances of abuse yet did not do anything to stop it.
The lawsuits contend that multiple victims had reported the alleged abuse to the hospitals before his arrest.