Patient Calls Doc’s Exams Sexual Assaults

CHICAGO (CN) - A Chicagoland doctor took nude photos of a patient, acted out oral sex and fingered her, claiming he needed to examine her vaginal mucus to determine if she could bear children, the woman claims in court.

Maria Perez sued Dr. Eduardo Barriuso in Cook County Court.

Perez claims she repeatedly visited Dr. Barriuso at his medical practice in Cicero, from June 2011 through February 2012, because she wanted to know if she could have children.

He first "instructed plaintiff to remove all of her clothing and pose for nude photographs which defendant took using his cellular telephone. Defendant explained that he was taking these photographs for plaintiff's file," lawsuit states.

"On or about June 16, 2011, plaintiff was again seen by defendant at his medical center. Again, defendant examined plaintiff in a medical examination room in the absence of any nurse or physician's assistant. During said examination, defendant performed an examination of plaintiff's vagina by inserting his hand into the vaginal cavity. While doing the same, defendant repeatedly asked plaintiff about her sexual activities, what arouses her, the size of her partner's penis, as well as what sexual positions she enjoys during sex," according to the complaint.

Two days later, Barriuso allegedly "advised plaintiff to engage more frequently in oral sex with her partner. Defendant used hand and mouth gestures to show plaintiff how to perform oral sex, and acted out how to perform oral sex. Defendant further acted out various sexual positions, performed pelvic thrusts, and explained in detail the sexual enjoyment plaintiff could experience by engaging in the various positions defendant demonstrated. ... in doing so, plaintiff was left very confused and embarrassed."

Perez claims Barriuso told her he would be able to tell if she was fertile by examining her vaginal mucus, which could be produced only during sex or masturbation.

At the next appointment, she claims "That defendant lubricated his fingers and placed them inside of plaintiff's vagina. The defendant began to make repeated inward and outward movements inside plaintiff's vagina. That defendant began to rub plaintiff's clitoris. That defendant began rubbing plaintiff's breast and told her to relax. Defendant told plaintiff that she needed to get excited to produce vaginal mucus which he needed to examine.

"Defendant became frustrated and upset because plaintiff was not aroused or relaxed. Defendant became angry and instructed plaintiff to imagine her partner in order to get aroused and then left plaintiff alone in the examination room.

"The upon returning to the examination room, defendant instructed plaintiff to raise her pelvis as she was lying on the examination table. Defendant reinserted his lubricated fingers into plaintiff's vagina and instructed plaintiff to move as if she were having sex. Defendant continued to complain that plaintiff was not getting excited and told her that she was useless and not cooperating.

"That defendant again left the room and instructed plaintiff to get dressed, and that she would have to return the next day when she was calmer and more willing to cooperate.

"That defendant insisted that this type of examination was not only necessary but would save plaintiff a lot of money as other medical centers would charge plaintiff great sums of money to extract the vaginal mucus which he needed to examine.

"That defendant maintained that this type of examination was necessary to determine whether plaintiff would be able to conceive and give birth to a child, and would have to be performed again."

Perez says she came back the next day, and Barriuso again told her to take off all her clothes and lie down naked again on the examination table while he inserted his fingers into her vagina and rubbed her breasts.

"Defendant began breathing fast and hard, and was aroused and had an erection," she claims.

One week later, Barriuso told Perez she needed a pap smear, she says.

"Defendant had plaintiff undress completely and lie face down on the examination table with her pelvis up. Defendant told plaintiff that he had positioned her in this manner for her not to see him and make it easier for her to get aroused. Defendant began to massage and penetrate plaintiff's vagina with his fingers, and rubbed her clitoris.

"That defendant complained that plaintiff was not getting aroused and was not wet, and therefore, not producing the vaginal mucus he needed to see. Defendant became angry and told plaintiff to return another day.

"Plaintiff was not answered when she asked whether the defendant has discerned anything about plaintiff's ability to have children," the complaint states.

Finally, she says, "Defendant took photographs of plaintiff's vagina using the camera feature in his cellular telephone. Defendant rubbed plaintiff's vagina explaining that he needed to clear the view of the entrance to her vagina as he continued to do so. Defendant took many photographs which he showed to plaintiff ..."

Perez calls Barriuso's acts "unwelcomed, inappropriate, immoral and unprofessional conduct." She seeks damages for assault and battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

She is represented by Ros Saciuk of Palatine.

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