Police is investigating allegations by a John Hopkins’ employee indicating that a gynecologist at that hospital secretly recorded his patients with a camera he hid inside a pen.
The gynecologist in question, Dr. Nikita Levy, took his own life on February 18 at his home, as investigators began to close in on him about the allegations earlier this month.
The employee who blew the whistle to authorities told hospital officials of her suspicions on Feb. 4, according to a letter from the hospital's CEO, Dr. Paul B. Rothman. The letter was dated Tuesday and sent to the law firm of Silverman Thompson Slutkin & White, which is working with the Maryland Crime Victims' Resource Center. The law firm gave a copy of the letter to The Associated Press on Wednesday.
According to the letter, the employee “noticed what seemed to be a device, like a writing pen, that Levy had worn around his neck while examining patients.” She said she believed the device was a camera.
After the report, Hopkins security personnel questioned Levy at his office on Feb. 5, and devices similar to the one described by the employee were seen in the office and on Levy.
Levy was barred from patient contact that day and escorted off hospital grounds. Hopkins notified Baltimore police the day after, and investigators have said they found large amounts of multimedia evidence.
Levy, 54, was the gynecological care provider to nearly 2,000 patients at a community clinic local to Johns Hopkins’ main campus, several news sources have reported.
ABC News reports some class action suits have been filed on behalf of patients of the gynecologist who hid a camera pen during intimate exams, and the network says:
“The employee [who suspected the gynecologist hid a camera] told hospital officials of her suspicions Feb. 4, according to a letter from the hospital’s CEO, Dr. Paul B. Rothman. The letter was dated Tuesday and sent to the law firm of Silverman Thompson Slutkin & White, which is working with the Maryland Crime Victims’ Resource Center. The law firm gave a copy of the letter to The Associated Press on Wednesday.”
