Graphic Complaints Against San Diego Doctor

SAN DIEGO (CN) - A San Diego doctor took more than 1,300 nude and partially photos of patients for nonmedical reasons, five women claim in court.

Y.D. et al. sued Volunteers in Medicine-San Diego and Dr. Jeffrey J. Abrams in Superior Court.

Abrams, 67, was arrested on Nov. 7 and charged with 24 felony counts of sexual penetration of an unconscious person, sexual battery, and possession of child pornography, according to the lawsuit.

The women say they sought medical care from VIM's office in El Cajon because they did not have health insurance and had to see Abrams to be referred to a specialist.

They say they did not realize that Abrams' photos were improper until late October this year, when Abrams appeared on the TV news. They say police discovered the photos after executing a search warrant and seizing Abrams' cell phone on July 3.

"The plaintiffs were ignorant as to the true use of their photographs as they were fraudulently told by Abrams that they were being taken for medical purposes and they believed him because he was their doctor," according to the complaint.

The five women graphically describe Abrams' alleged sexual battery. After forcing her to strip naked and fondling her vagina more than once, Y.D. claims, Abrams told her he needed to photograph her with his cell phone.

"Y.D. responded in Spanish, 'Radiografia, doctor?'" the complaint states.

It continues: "Abrams responded, 'I need one pintura for me.' Y.D. tried to ask why because she did not understand what Abrams was doing and why he needed cell phone pictures of her naked body. Abrams responded, 'I need it.'"

Plaintiff S.C. claims Abrams told her "he needed to take a pictures [sic] of her vagina to monitor her hair growth and to see how the medication he prescribed her was working."

S.C. says that Abrams told her he needed photos of her breasts for the same reason.

When she told him she had a hemorrhoid, "Abrams then told S.C. that he needed to take photos of it to see if it would go down," according to the complaint.

She claims that Abrams made her get on all fours on the examination table, then "stuck an ungloved finger inside her butt in an in and out motion. He then took photographs of her."

S.C. claims Abrams also asked her if she had anal sex with her husband and how often they did it.

The other plaintiffs make similar, or different but equally graphic allegations.

They claim that Abrams would personally call them on their cell phones to ask when they would be coming in again because he was worried and need to see them.

The women seek punitive damages for professional negligence, negligent misrepresentation, sexual battery and sexual harassment.

They are represented by Jessica Pride.

Abrams is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Dec. 5. His medical license was suspended on Oct. 31, according to the complaint.

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