A class-action lawsuit has led to a $23 million settlement for approximately 2,500 women who claim they were sexually abused by gastroenterologist Steven Matulis during colonoscopy or endoscopy procedures while under anesthesia. They allege that Matulis fondled them or performed inappropriate touching during these procedures when they were unconscious.
The allegations include claims that hospital staff observed or were aware of misconduct but did not intervene, and that procedural settings allowed the abuse to continue without accountability. Matulis was convicted in 2018 of first-degree sexual abuse related to patient abuse while under anesthesia.
The settlement approval is a significant victory for survivors who had little memory of abuse due to anesthesia and relied on medical records, staff testimony, and institutional accountability. It underscores that even when abuse occurs under the cover of medical necessity and unconsciousness, civil law can provide validation and financial remedy—and pressure for systemic change.
