Extensive Number of Sexual Abuse Complaints against Chicago Doctor
The Chicago Tribune published an article earlier this week detailing
the substantial number of sexual abuse allegations levied against Dr.
Ricardo Arze between 2000 and 2007. According to the article, Arze
allegedly sexually assaulted at least 21 women and girls at his
practice in Berwyn, IL. The first complaint against Arze was lodged in
2003 when a 17 year old girl told Berwyn police that the doctor had
removed her clothes and sexually assaulted her in his exam room. It
took four more years and at least four formal complaints to police to
initiate an investigation that led to Arze’s being charged with
criminal sexual assault. Since that time at least 21 total girls and
women have detailed acts of sexual abuse committed by Arze. The
victims of Arze that did come forward report to being brushed aside by
police.
The widespread abuses committed by Arze are indicative of a system
which some feel does not adequately protect patients from sexual
predators masquerading as doctors. Medical discipline of doctors is
handled by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional
Regulation. That disciplinary agency is not required to report abuse
allegations to police just as the police are not required to report to
the disciplinary authorities. In addition, Illinois law only allows
license revocation where a doctor has been twice convicted of felonies
involving controlled substances or public aid offenses. As such, Dr.
Arze’s license to practice medicine has not been revoked.
Arze was finally charged in 2007 with sexual assault and is currently
released on $1.5 million dollar bail. Once the charges against Arze
were made public, many more women began to come forward with stories
of abuse. Many of these women filed civil sexual abuse cases against
Arze. Oftentimes, pressure and exposure through civil lawsuits can
spur prosecutorial action where police and the state are unwilling or
unable to bring a case. If you have been the victim of institutional
sexual abuse, you should contact an attorney to explore your options
and potentially expose harmful predators. To speak with an experienced
Illinois victims’ rights attorney, please click here.
