About 2,500 women treated by gastroenterologist Steven Matulis, MD, at Charleston (W.Va.) Area Medical Center’s endoscopy suite joined a class-action lawsuit against him and the hospital. The women had colonoscopies at the hospital’s endoscopy suite from 2010 to 2016.
Dr. Matulis was convicted of first-degree sexual abuse in 2018 after multiple staff members witnessed him inappropriately touching patients under anesthesia.
Kanawha Circuit Judge Jennifer Bailey approved a $23 million settlement, and each of the plaintiffs is expected to receive about $5,000. Additional cases against Dr. Matulis and Charleston Area Medical Center are pending.
Last year, 372 patients Dr. Matulis treated at Charleston Day Surgery Center settled a different civil lawsuit for $890,000.
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