Patients face barriers to reporting sexual abuse. The nature of the health care provider-patient relationship often requires touching of intimate areas. Patients may lack the expertise to distinguish touching necessary for examination and touching that is sexual abuse. The brave women abused by sex offender and physician, Larry Nassar, helped shine light on this issue. Nassar sexually abused more than 300 patients, many of them underage girls.
There are many reasons why a patient who has been sexually abused might not come forward. When patients are not aware of the abuse (e.g., the patient was sedated), or are confused as to whether abuse occurred (e.g., not realizing that an ungloved vaginal exam was unnecessary), this can contribute to delays seeking justice.
House Bill 1402 helps survivors by requiring that colleagues inform the patient of suspected sexual abuse and by expanding the time period to file criminal charges when a health care provider has committed sexual abuse while acting in a professional capacity.
Urge the Judiciary Committee to
issue a FAVORABLE report on HB1402
Leadership:
Luke H. Clippinger, Chair (District 46, Baltimore City)
Phone: (410) 841-3488 | (301) 858-3488
E-mail: [email protected]
David Moon (District 20, Montgomery County)
Phone: (410) 841-3474 | (301) 858-3474
E-mail: [email protected]
Members:
Curt Anderson (District 43, Baltimore City)
Phone: (410) 841-3291 | (301) 858-3291
E-mail: [email protected]
Lauren C. Arikan (District 7, Baltimore County & Harford County)
Phone: (410) 841-3334 | (301) 858-3334
E-mail: [email protected]
J. Sandy Bartlett (District 32, Anne Arundel County)
Phone: (410) 841-3370 | (301) 858-3370
E-mail: [email protected]
Jon S. Cardin (District 11, Baltimore County)
Phone: (410) 841-3054 | (301) 858-3054
E-mail: [email protected]
Frank M. Conaway, Jr. (District 40, Baltimore City)
Phone: (410) 841-3189 | (301) 858-3189
E-mail: [email protected]
Daniel L. Cox (District 4, Carroll & Frederick Counties)
Phone: (410) 841-3288 | (301) 858-3288
E-mail: [email protected]
Charlotte Crutchfield (District 19, Montgomery County)
Phone: (410) 841-3485 | (301) 858-3485
E-mail: [email protected]
Debra M. Davis (District 28, Charles County)
Phone: (410) 841-3337 | (301) 858-3337
E-mail: [email protected]
Wanika B. Fisher (District 47B, Prince George's Counties)
Phone: (410) 841-3340 | (301) 858-3340
E-mail: [email protected]
Robin L. Grammer, Jr. (District 6, Baltimore County)
Phone: (410) 841-3298 | (301) 858-3298
E-mail: [email protected]
Faye Martin Howell (District 24, Prince George's County)
Phone: (410) 841-3692 | (301) 858-3692
E-mail: [email protected]
Rachel R. Jones (District 27B, Calvert & Prince George's Counties)
Phone: (410) 841-3103 | (301) 858-3103
E-mail: [email protected]
Lesley J. Lopez (District 39, Montgomery County)
Phone: (410) 841-3021 | (301) 858-3021
E-mail: [email protected]
Susan K. McComas (District 34B, Harford County)
Phone: (410) 841-3272 | (301) 858-3272
E-mail: [email protected]
Rachel Munoz (District 33, Anne Arundel County)
Phone: (410) 841-3510 | (301) 858-3510
E-mail: [email protected]
Emily K. Shetty (District 18, Montgomery County)
Phone: (410) 841-3181 | (301) 858-3181
E-mail: [email protected]
Haven Shoemaker (District 5, Carroll County)
Phone: (410) 841-3359 | (301) 858-3359
E-mail: [email protected]
Brenda J. Thiam (District 2B, Washington County)
Phone: (410) 841-3125 | (301) 858-3125
E-mail: [email protected]
Karen Toles (District 25, Prince George's County)
Phone: (410) 841-3524 | (301) 858-3524
E-mail: [email protected]
Nicole A. Williams (District 22, Prince George's County)
Phone: (410) 841-3058 | (301) 858-3058
E-mail: [email protected]
