San Francisco Doctor Sexual Assault Lawyer

Were you sexually assaulted by a doctor or other medical provider in San Francisco?

At Kellogg & Van Aken LLP, we are plaintiff-focused doctor sexual assault lawyers who prepare every case with experience and dedication.

If a doctor or other medical provider sexually assaulted you during an exam or treatment in San Francisco, the facility that employed that provider may also be liable. Our San Francisco, CA doctor sexual assault lawyer can obtain your medical records, the provider's credentialing file, and the facility's chaperone policies. We use that evidence to build a civil claim for compensation.

Kellogg & Van Aken LLP takes only the survivor's side in sexual abuse cases. Contact our office for a confidential review of what happened.

Doctor Sexual Assault Lawyer San Francisco, CA

A doctor sexual assault lawyer represents patients who were sexually assaulted by physicians, nurses, therapists, or other health care workers. Many of these assaults were presented as part of a legitimate exam. The medical record, the layout of the exam room, and the presence or absence of a chaperone often become central evidence.

The Medical Board of California received 62 health facility reports alleging sexual abuse or misconduct in fiscal year 2024–25, according to its 2024–25 annual report. The year before, it received 56. Patients can also file complaints directly with the board.

Types of Doctor Sexual Assault Cases We Handle in San Francisco

Sexual assault in health care ranges from misconduct during a routine exam to abuse in long-term care. We pursue the provider along with the employer, health system, or university that oversaw that provider. As doctor sexual assault attorneys in San Francisco, we evaluate each setting on its own facts.

• Examination misconduct. Many cases involve breast, pelvic, rectal, or genital exams that had no medical purpose. We compare what occurred with the documented reason for the visit.

• University sexual assault. Student health centers often serve students who have few other options for care. Our attorneys served as liaison counsel for more than 80 former students in a case against a university physician.

• Hospital staff misconduct. Nurses, technicians, and orderlies have access to patients who are sedated, recovering, or unable to call for help. We examine staffing records and the hospital's response to earlier complaints.

• Rape. Some medical assaults involve the rape of a patient who was sedated or restrained. Access logs and security footage can show who entered the room and when.

• Nursing home abuse. Elderly and disabled residents depend on staff for daily care. We pursue facilities that failed to screen, supervise, or remove an employee accused of sexual abuse.

• Molestation. Pediatric providers can misuse their access to children. We pursue the provider and any practice or hospital that ignored warning signs or parental complaints.

• Mental health provider misconduct. Psychiatrists and therapists hold significant influence over patients in treatment. Sexual contact with a patient violates that relationship. We pursue claims against the provider and any practice that employed that person.

• Sexual assault. Adults are also assaulted in private practices, urgent care clinics, and medical spas. A claim can name both the provider and the business that employed that person.

• Sexual abuse. Some patients were abused repeatedly over months or years of treatment. We gather the records from each visit to establish the full pattern.

Why Choose Kellogg & Van Aken LLP as My Doctor Sexual Assault Lawyer in San Francisco, CA?

Defense Experience With Medical Industry Clients

Kelly Van Aken was a trial attorney at a San Francisco defense firm before co-founding our practice. There, she represented pharmaceutical and medical device companies in mass tort and high-stakes personal injury matters. That background informs how we anticipate the defenses health care companies raise. Kelly is a member of the Bar Association of San Francisco (BASF).

Mikayla Kellogg represents adult and minor survivors of sexual misconduct by doctors. She is a member of the American Association for Justice. Mikayla focuses her practice on sexual abuse, sexual assault, and personal injury litigation. She has worked on highly publicized cases and on cases that proceeded alongside criminal investigations. Patients with medical abuse claims work with the same attorneys who serve as our sexual assault lawyer in San Francisco, CA.

Recoveries in Abuse and Injury Cases

Our case results include millions of dollars recovered across abuse, injury, and tenant matters. Settlements include:

• $1,125,000 for former college students abused by a university doctor

• $900,000 for a property guest who fell three stories

• $900,000 for a survivor of sexual assault

• $900,000 for four tenants wrongfully evicted from rent-controlled apartments

We represent patients on contingency. You owe no attorney fees unless we recover compensation.

What Is Important to Understand About a Doctor Sexual Assault Case?

Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Doctor Sexual Assault Cases

A hospital, clinic, or medical group can be liable for its own negligence in hiring, credentialing, or supervising a provider. Under California law, an employer that knew or should have known of a provider's risk and failed to act can be held responsible for the resulting harm.

Survivors may recover compensation for:

• Counseling, psychiatric care, and medication

• Medical treatment needed because of the assault

• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity

• Emotional distress, anxiety, and loss of trust in medical care

• Punitive damages, when clear and convincing evidence shows malice, oppression, or fraud

Some survivors delay necessary medical care after being assaulted by a provider. The health effects of that delay can be part of the harm we document. The provider's individual liability is separate from the facility's. A claim can proceed against both at the same time.

What Is The Doctor Sexual Assault Case Timeline?

Most doctor cases involve adult patients. For an assault that occurred when you were 18 or older, California's adult deadline is generally 10 years from the last act. You may instead file within three years of discovering the injury, if that period ends later. Some adult claims that had already expired can be filed through December 31, 2027.

Patients assaulted as children follow different rules. Childhood abuse on or after January 1, 2024, has no time limit. Earlier childhood abuse generally must be filed by age 40 or within five years of discovering the harm, whichever is later.

A doctor case usually follows this sequence:

1. Records request. We obtain your chart, appointment history, and billing records.

2. Provider history. We research licensing actions, prior complaints, and lawsuits involving the provider.

3. Complaint. We file against the provider and each responsible employer or facility.

4. Discovery. We depose the provider, chaperones, and facility administrators.

5. Resolution. The case ends in mediation, settlement, or trial.

What Are Important Aspects of a Doctor Sexual Assault Case?

Medical settings create records that other abuse cases rarely have.

• The chart may document an exam that had no medical purpose. That entry can support your account.

• Chaperone policies and room logs can show whether the facility followed its own rules.

• A provider's licensing history is public. Prior board actions can show that the employer was on notice.

• Men abused during medical exams often face barriers to reporting. A doctor sexual assault attorney in San Francisco should account for that delay when evaluating the claim.

• We take steps to protect your privacy from intake through resolution.

Several agencies accept reports separately from a civil claim. The Medical Board of California reviews complaints against physicians, including sexual misconduct. The Department of Public Health investigates complaints about hospitals and nursing homes. RAINN's medical care guide explains what to expect when seeking treatment after an assault.

What Should You Bring to Your Doctor Sexual Assault Consultation?

Bring whatever records you can access. We can request the rest.

• The name of the provider, the facility, and the approximate appointment dates

• Visit summaries, patient portal messages, or bills from those visits

• Names of anyone present during the exam

• Copies of any complaint you made to the facility or the Medical Board

The consultation is free and confidential. We will tell you whether we can accept your case and what the next steps would be. If you already reported the provider, we will also review that complaint and any response you received.

Reach Out to Kellogg & Van Aken LLP to Schedule a Consultation

Our San Francisco doctor sexual assault lawyer can request your records, investigate the provider's history, and hold each responsible facility accountable. Kellogg & Van Aken LLP takes these cases on contingency. There is no fee unless we recover compensation for you. Contact us to schedule a free, confidential consultation. Our office will respond to set a time.