ATLANTA (Diya TV) — Dr. Rajesh Motibhai Patel, a 69-year-old doctor from Lilburn, Georgia, was sentenced to two years in federal prison for sexually abusing a female veteran during a medical examination at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Decatur. He was sentenced following his conviction on November 5, 2024, on charges of deprivation of the victim’s constitutional right to bodily integrity under color of law and abusive sexual contact.
The attack took place in January 2020 during what was supposed to be a standard medical examination. Prosecutors explained that Dr. Patel illegally touched the victim’s vagina and breast areas without permission and for no legal medical reason. Along with the prison sentence, U.S. District Judge William M. Ray II sentenced Patel to 15 years of supervised release, upon which he will be barred from practicing medicine.
“Dr. Patel broke the physicians’ cardinal rule to not harm patients in his care,” U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan said. “Veterans who came to him for care, such as the victim here, trusted Dr. Patel, and he broke that trust. His conviction hopefully brings some healing to those who were victimized by his conduct.
The Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General investigated the case that resulted in the conviction of Patel. VA Inspector General Michael J. Missal highlighted the importance of the verdict, saying, “The verdict is an important step in seeking justice for a sexual assault committed against a veteran seeking care at a VA medical center.” He also deplored violence against veterans at VA facilities as “reprehensible” and a serious violation of trust.
Dr. Patel has been a primary care doctor at the Decatur VA Medical Center since 2015. He was originally indicted for sexually assaulting four of his female patients during a series of routine examinations between 2019 and 2020. Although the jury acquitted him on charges against three of the victims, he was convicted on counts against the fourth.
