Mount Sinai Doctor Sexually Abused Drugged Patient, Groped Another: Prosecutors

A New York City doctor is facing assault and sex abuse charges after authorities say he was accused of performing a lewd act on a drugged patient earlier this year and groping another victim, prosecutors say. 

Dr. David Newman was arrested Tuesday after a patient in his care at Mount Sinai Hospital accused him of groping her and masturbating while she was unconscious on Jan. 11, police sources first told NBC 4 New York. A second victim also accused him of groping her during a visit.

Sources say that the first victim, 29,  had been given a dose of morphine by nurses before Newman came to check on her. She alleged that he then gave her an additional dose and she lost consciousness but could hear him moving her gurney to another area. 

Once there, sources say, the victim alleged that Newman groped her and pleasured himself. 

A criminal complaint says that the woman regained consciousness during the incident but wasn't able to stop the doctor because she had been incapacitated by the powerful narcotic.

Afterward, she was able to save bodily fluids that were on her hospital gown and handed them over to police.

A second victim, 22, came forward on Saturday. She alleges that he groped her for a long time and had her bend over in front of him when she visited him for treatment of a cold.

Newman turned himself in to police and volunteered a DNA sample, according to his lawyer. 

Mount Sinai Hospital said in a statement Tuesday that Newman, who's been the emergency room supervisor there for 15 years, was suspended once the NYPD began investigating the claims. 

"He has not provided care to patients at Mount Sinai since the investigation began," the hospital said. "We take the nature of these allegations very seriously and continue to conduct our own extensive internal inquiry."

Investigators are also looking into whether Newman had his own supply of morphine because only nurses are allowed access to the drug in the hospital. 

Defense attorney John Wing told NBC 4 after his client's court appearance that Newman is a "good man and excellent doctor."

"We plan on dealing with this in a responsible manner," said Wing.

Newman has a wife and two young children, and served in Iraq as a doctor, according to Wing.

He was being held on $150,000 bail, and Wing said it's likely he'll make bail on Wednesday. He's next scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 23. 

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