Toledo-based plastic surgeon Dr. Manish Gupta was arrested March 6 for aggravated sexual assault, sex trafficking and illegally dispensing controlled drugs. A board-certified plastic surgeon licensed in Ohio and Michigan (he has offices in both states operating under the name Artisan Cosmetic Surgery), Gupta is accused of, among other things, drugging a high-end female escort in 2016 and then performed sex acts as she was unconscious. Gupta filmed this and several similar incidents.
According to a local news report, the escort in 2016 sensed that there was something wrong, so she later purchased an at-home drug test – she tested positive for benzodiazepine, which is a tranquilizer. The woman also went to the Rape Treatment Center at UCLA Medical Center in Santa Monica to get a rape exam. The victim then went online and found that several other women claimed they had experiences similar to the one she endured.
This behavior was also confirmed by a Gupta employee who found several SD cards in 2014 filled with videos of the doctor having sex with women who appeared to be unconscious. That employee passed the content to an unnamed individual who gave it to the FBI.
A federal search warrant was issued on March 6, 2020, for Gupta’s two offices in Lucas County as well as his private vehicle and home. Investigators found camera equipment, SD cards, sex toys, and drugs in Gupta’s private office.
Survivors likely can file lawsuits
The doctor will lose his license to practice and will likely face convictions on criminal charges based on the evidence gathered. However, victims of certain crimes like sexual assault often have the option to file a civil lawsuit, as was the case with Bill Cosby. Under the circumstances of this case, this would include medical malpractice, assault and battery. This can include money for damages caused by Gupta, but it is also a matter of holding him accountable for his actions.
Those who got similar treatment as the victims who came forward should contact a personal injury attorney to discuss the details of their experience. No amount of money can heal the wounds they suffered at the hands of a medical professional that they trusted. Still, compensation for damages can often help victims rebuild their lives after experiencing this kind of severe trauma.