Daily Beast: Longtime New York Lawmaker Accuses Doctor of Molesting Him During Senate Physical

By Justin Rohrlich
Nov. 09, 2023

The first-ever openly gay member of the New York State Senate claims he was molested nearly two decades ago by a doctor conducting a routine physical exam required of all legislators.

That’s according to a new lawsuit obtained by The Daily Beast, in which former State Sen. Thomas Duane—also the first openly HIV-positive member of the legislative body—says Dr. Nathan Mitkoff of the Albany Medical Center ground his genitals against his thigh during a check-up in 2004. He alleges the disturbing incident “made his recovery from substance abuse more difficult and his ongoing need for psychological therapy more pressing.”

[…]

“Our client’s complaint lays out serious allegations of improper conduct and a betrayal of trust by a doctor and the medical system that hired and supervised him,” Duane’s lawyer, Lesley Brovner, told The Daily Beast on Thursday. “This case is an example of the profound importance of the Adult Survivors Act. The ASA has been a powerful tool in holding perpetrators of sexual abuse accountable. No one should have to suffer this type of abuse without redress. Our client looks forward to having his day in court.”

Read the full article on thedailybeast.com