Sexual Assault Charges on Dr. Hadi Rassael? (2024)

Dr. Hadi Rassael claims that he developed Millennium Medical to offer top-notch medical care, cosmetic surgery, and non-surgical therapies to the Chevy Chase, Maryland, community, and surrounding areas. He has dedicated his professional career to perfecting his procedures and outcomes. He is a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and other esteemed organisations.

Dr. Hadi Rassael lost his medical license after being accused of sexual assault

The Maryland Board of Physicians lifted Dr. Hadi Rassael‘s suspension after finding him accountable for engaging in unethical and dishonest behaviour while practising medicine and carrying out cosmetic surgery at an unlicensed clinic. Dr. Hadi Rassael was given a minimum three-year probationary period. According to board records, Dr. Hadi Rassael is on probation and subject to several requirements, including meeting with a supervising physician at least once a month and having a chaperone present during all interactions with patients. He is also required to submit to recurring polygraph exams at the request of the Maryland Professional Rehabilitation Program.

(WJLA) CHEVY CHASE, MD – A local plastic surgeon who was accused of what some have referred to as the worst form of breach of trust has had his licence revoked.

When journalists visited the Millennium Medical Spa in Chevy Chase, the staff was present, and the lights were on, but Dr. Hadi Rassael wasn’t there.

Dr. Hadi Rassael allegedly broke multiple patients’ confidence, and this cost him his licence, according to court documents. After learning that two patients had accused the doctor of sexually assaulting them in his office, the Maryland Board of Physicians suspended him last week for sexual misconduct.

According to the board records, Dr. Hadi Rassael—who has refuted every charge—is charged with having a romantic involvement with a third patient that began in the doctor’s office. The patient allegedly stopped their connection after she lent him $180,000, the lady claims since he “borrowed all the money I had.”

“To know that someone could violate your personal space like that is awful,” said Maame Apphia, a resident of Washington, D.C. “Even if he gets his licence again, I hope people will know about it,”

But before he can resume his work, Dr. Hadi Rassael will need to address issues beyond the sexual harassment claims. The Board of Physicians alleges that he is deceiving people by falsely representing himself as a board-certified plastic surgeon on one of his websites.

Dr. Hadi Rassael mentions plastic surgery as his area of expertise but lacks board certification, which essentially means he hasn’t received any specialised training or certification in the field.

“I think that you just believe that it is what it is,” said Montgomery County resident Jessica Greenseid. “You see the white coat and the stethoscope and the “M.D.” on their jacket.”

Dr. Hadi Rassael was contacted by journalists for comment but did not respond.

Dr. Hadi Rassael: Abuse of Power by the Powerful

Power can be hazardous if it’s in the wrong hands. This is especially true at work, where the misuse of authority can result in sexual harassment. Sexual harassment almost invariably involves issues of power. It involves someone threatening or manipulating another person, which is unlawful and against the law. 

Sexual harassment not only has bad effects on the workplace culture but also has legal repercussions. Men believe that formal authority is what gives them power, and they may consider managers and supervisors as potential sexual harassers. Women frequently assume that everyone at work is a potential harasser because they believe that anyone seen as powerful might start it.

When there are significant power disparities, sexual harassment is more probable to happen. An unequal allocation of power is best characterised by the supervisor-employee relationship. In this situation, having power allows the boss to influence and reward a worker, who is typically a female employee. 

The majority of workers want resources that managers have control over, such as favourable performance reviews, pay raises, and promotions. People in positions of authority frequently favour weak women, such as female interns, entry-level employees, and assistants. The weaker employee is thereby placed in a challenging circumstance. In Hollywood, where many women succumb to strong men because they desire the chance to succeed in the business, we may witness examples of this.

Three explanations are given by Dr. Gwendolyn Seidman of Psychology Today as to why some strong men would be more likely than others to harass their subordinates sexually. Men who equate sex with power are more inclined to utilise that power to get sex from someone at work, which is the first explanation. 

Men who link sex and power unconsciously are more likely to engage in sexual aggression, according to research. According to one study, males who associate authority with sex are more likely to coerce their subordinates into having sex with them. It was also discovered that males who made this connection were more likely to admit that they would harass a woman sexually if a situation occurred at work.

The second argument she gives is that those in positions of authority could overestimate the sexual interest of those who are looking for casual encounters. People in positions of authority typically have less empathy for others, which they might take advantage of. They are preoccupied with their objectives, which may include seeking out sexual experiences with desirable female coworkers. 

The final justification is that men who truly lack authority are more prone to feel the urge to make up for it. Insecure and low-status males are more prone to place women on an equal footing with them by sexually harassing them in the same way as powerful and influential men.

It is hardly surprising that men who harass or abuse women also frequently exhibit sexist beliefs, such as resistance to gender equality or support for gender-specific traditional roles. Men who are hostile to women are more likely to search for circumstances in which women are more exposed.

These are the males who crave power, especially over young, attractive women. Since the #MeToo movement began, there has been a steady increase in awareness of abuse, and many people are now finding the bravery to come out and share their experiences to empower other women to speak up and expose their abusers. 

This is advantageous since it deters those in positions of authority from harassing others at work and increases awareness of the problem we have today. The abuser could benefit more if someone waits longer to report. 

Women are battling tenaciously to get their opinions acknowledged and the harasser held accountable. It is only just that we provide justice to individuals who have been abused by strong men.

Dr. Hadi Rassael: Sexual Abuse in Healthcare Facilities and Hospitals

Patients put their lives in the hands of doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. Doctors may surely avoid purposefully hurting patients, even though they may not always be able to assist them. Sexually abusing a patient is arguably the most heinous act a healthcare professional can commit. While many may find this behavior unimaginable, more often than most people realize, sexual abuse, rape, and other forms of sexual misbehavior happen.

Statistics on sexual abuse

The unfortunate fact is that sexual assault is a common occurrence in the US. A study by the US Department of Justice found that over 52% of men and 66% of women report having been sexually abused at some point in their lives. However, the majority of individuals do not anticipate this kind of abuse to be committed by a medical expert. Sadly, this situation occurs all too frequently. 9% of doctors claim to have had sexual contact with at least one patient, according to a poll. Any kind of sexual interaction between doctors and patients is questionable because of the power dynamics at play in the doctor-patient relationship.

Another 2017 study found that a male physician over the age of 39 who is not board-certified and sees patients alone is the most likely offender of patient sexual abuse. In actuality, 100 percent of respondents said that the assault was carried out by male doctors.

Although these figures may seem startling, many experts think that instances of physician sexual abuse are vastly underreported. Patients might not be aware of what is abuse or what is medically essential, which contributes to this. Understandably, people who have experienced abuse may also harbour mistrust of the medical system and may decide not to file a claim because they are afraid of being subjected to more testing and treatment from another healthcare professional.

Locations That May Be Used for Sexual Abuse

The majority of sexual assaults in the medical field take place when patients and clinicians are alone. Additionally, women make up the bulk of people who are abused. Obstetricians and gynaecologists are among the medical specialists who are blamed the most frequently as a result. But sexual assault can happen everywhere in the healthcare industry, including:

-Hospitals,

-Emergency rooms,

-Doctors’ offices,

-Nursing homes, and

-Psychiatrists’ and psychologists’ offices.

No matter where the abuse took place or what kind of doctor did it, it deviates from the level of care that doctors are required to provide for their patients. If you have any doubts that what you went through was abuse, they are almost definitely unfounded. 

Different Forms of Sexual Abuse in Medical Facilities

A nurse experiencing issues in the hospital as a result of sexual assault. There are 17 distinct categories of sexual offenses under Oregon law. Without the victim’s agreement, the majority of these crimes include sexually explicit physical contact. Some crimes, however, can be committed without any physical touch. The main prevalent forms of sexual abuse in the healthcare industry are listed below.

Rape

When a healthcare professional engages in sexual activity with a patient against the patient’s will, it is considered rape.

Intent to rape

When a doctor or other healthcare professional tries to make sexual contact with a patient but is unsuccessful for any reason, it is considered a rape attempt.

Sexual Abuse

Physical contact without the patient’s consent that does not involve penetration constitutes sexual assault. For instance, a doctor may be involved in sexual assault if they do an unnecessary or protracted pelvic exam.

Child Sexual Abuse

Minors are particularly vulnerable to sexual abuse in Oregon and across the nation. Healthcare professionals share a trusting relationship with parents and kids in society. Providers can—and should—be held accountable when they abuse that trust by sexually abusing a patient.