March 31, 2008 Sexual abuse claims filed against former Boston doctor Play video

(NECN: Boston, Mass.) – Several adults say they were sexually abused by a former doctor at Children’s Hospital Boston. The latest alleged victim says he was abused in the 1980s beginning when he was 8-years-old.

NECN’s Ally Donnelly has details.

Script:

The men are all adults now and the criminal statute of limitations has run out, but many of them are suing Dr. Mel Levine in civil court. The first malpractice suit was filed in 1988 and was dismissed, but a Boston attorney has filed four more lawsuits, with different alleged victims -- all who have a similar story to tell.

“This is an awful thing and it's a very frightening thing.”

Seven men say, when they were children, a former pediatrician at Children's Hospital Boston sexually abused them.

Each of them describes being brought into an examing room, each of them describes being told to undress, each of them describes having their genitals fondled.

Boston attorney Carmen Durso represents the majority of the men and Monday filed a medical malpractice suit against Children's and Dr. Melvin Levine in Suffolk Superior Court. The civil suit filed was on behalf of John Doe number 5. The 36-year-old man now lives in the South and says memories of the abuse were triggered when he brought his own child to a doctor's appointment recently.

He describes being absolutely overwhelmed with emotion...the idea that his child was going to be alone with a doctor -- a doctor

Levine was a pediatrician at Children's caring for patients with developmental and educational issues from 1971 to 1985. He later moved to North Carolina. He retired from the staff of the medical school at UNC though the school says he did not see patients. The renowned physician also founded a non-profit in North Carolina that works with children with learning disabilities. It is not clear if he has any direct contact with the kids.

Children's Hospital Boston released a statement saying they have "never had any complaint from any patient or parent suggesting inappropriate conduct of any nature by Dr. Levine.

His lawyer also released a statement categorically denying the claims saying, “Dr. Levine is distressed about the distorted or misrepresented memories from decades past, and questions the motivations.”