Expanded Lawsuit Against Army Doctor Alleges Decades of Sexual Assault and Secret Filming of Patients

Dozens More Victims Join Expanded Lawsuit Against Army Doctor

An ongoing legal battle against a U.S. Army gynecologist has dramatically intensified as dozens more women have joined a civil lawsuit accusing him of sexual abuse, assault, and secret filming during medical examinations. Originally filed in November, the lawsuit now includes at least 81 additional women who say they were “subjected to invasive, unnecessary, and degrading touching, voyeurism, and covert filming” by Army Major Blaine McGraw during exams at military medical facilities.

This expanded filing comes shortly after McGraw was charged by the Army’s Office of Special Trial Counsel with 54 counts of “indecent visual recording” and related offenses, highlighting a sweeping pattern of alleged misconduct that spans multiple years and duty stations.

Allegations Detail Sexual Assault, Recording, and Harmful Contact

While the Army’s charges have focused primarily on secretly recording patients during pelvic and gynecological exams, the expanded civil complaint goes much further. It accuses McGraw under Texas law of:

• Sexual assault

• Assault and battery

• Intentionally and knowingly making harmful and offensive physical contact

The women allege that McGraw’s conduct went beyond medically necessary procedures and crossed clear boundaries of consent and medical ethics — including secret recordings made during exams.

In one particularly troubling example cited in court filings, a service member reported that McGraw had taken photos during a rape kit examination — a moment of extreme vulnerability that left her feeling violated and disregarded by the very medical system meant to support her.

Systemic Failures Highlighted in Lawsuit

The expanded lawsuit also criticizes broader institutional failures. Attorneys for the women argue that McGraw “thrived” due to systemic shortcomings within military medical facilities, suggesting that complaints were dismissed or ignored and that adequate safeguards — such as chaperones during intimate exams — were not consistently enforced.

Some plaintiffs assert that the Army’s response has been slow or opaque, drawing comparisons to other high-profile military medical abuse cases in which early warnings were overlooked and misconduct continued. Critics argue that such institutional lapses can allow predators to remain in positions where they have access to more victims.

Implications for Patients and Survivors Nationwide

Although this case involves military medical facilities in Texas and Hawaii, the allegations carry important implications for patients everywhere — including survivors in New Jersey. Anyone who has been sexually abused, improperly touched, or secretly recorded during a medical appointment — whether in a military, private, or institutional setting — should know that they may have legal options.

Allegations like these also raise critical questions about medical consent, privacy protections, and institutional responsibility when patients place trust in healthcare providers. New Jersey has been proactive in enhancing survivors’ rights through laws that expand civil claim opportunities for victims of sexual abuse, even many years after the incident.

Survivors of Abuse NJ Supports Victims of Medical and Institutional Abuse

At Survivors of Abuse NJ, attorney Joseph L. Messa, Jr., Esq. helps survivors of doctor sexual abuse — including cases involving medical professionals, institutions, and systemic failures — pursue civil claims for justice and compensation. These lawsuits can seek damages for:

• Emotional distress and trauma

• Ongoing therapy and mental health care

• Lost wages and long-term economic impact

• Loss of trust and dignity

• Institutional negligence that enabled abuse

Crucially, civil claims can help hold negligent organizations accountable when they fail to enforce safeguards, ignore complaints, or allow misconduct to persist. McGraw’s case highlights why this legal accountability is vital — not just for individual victims, but for systemic reform.

A Path to Justice and Healing

The expanded lawsuit against Maj. McGraw serves as a stark reminder of the power imbalances that can exist in medical settings — and how dangerous those imbalances can become when oversight fails. Survivors deserve not only justice, but recognition, support, and systemic changes that prevent similar harm in the future.

If you or someone you know has been harmed by a doctor, nurse, medical provider, or institution — whether through inappropriate contact, lack of consent, or violations of privacy — Survivors of Abuse NJ offers confidential support and legal advocacy. You are not alone, and there are legal pathways to accountability and healing.

Source:

https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/10/politics/expanded-lawsuit-army-doctor