Doctor inappropriately touched patient and exposed himself during exam, AR lawsuit says
While in the privacy of an exam room, a doctor exposed his genitals and inappropriately touched his female patient during an exam, an Arkansas lawsuit said.
The patient is now suing him, saying Dr. David Diffine’s actions during exams throughout an 18-month doctor-patient relationship caused her anxiety, humiliation and other physical and emotional damage, the lawsuit filed on Dec. 17 said. The patient is also suing Diffine Family Practice where the doctor is employed.
Attorney information for Diffine was not listed. The practice could not be reached for comment.
Beginning in mid-2023, the woman sought medical care from the Diffine in Greene County, according to the lawsuit. During examinations, the doctor showed her his genitals, inappropriately touched her and made lewd, sexual comments, the lawsuit said.
“(Diffine’s) actions were intentional, deliberate, and served no legitimate medical purpose. Instead, they were designed to gratify his own sexual desires, abuse his position of trust, and humiliate (the patient),” according to the lawsuit.
This led to severe emotional and even physical impacts on the woman’s health. The lawsuit says she struggled to sleep and suffered other “physical manifestations of stress” as a result of the doctor’s actions.
She now distrusts medical professionals, according to court documents.
In November, a 2019 video surfaced showing Diffine walking around the medical practice naked during business hours, KAIT reported. The video also showed the man performing sex acts with a staff member in front of two other staff members in the receptionist’s area, the outlet reported.
Diffine’s medical license was suspended by the Arkansas State Medical Board in October following reports of the physician engaging in sex acts with a staff member who was also a patient of his, according to the medical board and KAIT.
The patient is seeking an undisclosed amount of damages to be determined by a jury, according to court documents.
Greene County is about a 155-mile drive northeast from Little Rock.
This story was originally published December 19, 2024 at 12:54 PM with the headline "Doctor inappropriately touched patient and exposed himself during exam, AR lawsuit says."
