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Who is Omar Massoud? Cleveland Clinic doc arrested after being accused of sexually assaulting patients

Dr Omar Massoud, a gastroenterologist, is accused of fondling three patients on three separate incidents during an examination

BY JENNY ANNA MATHEW

PUBLISHED DEC 21, 2022

Dr Omar Massoud is facing criminal charges for allegedly sexually assaulting patients at Cleveland Clinic Hospital in Ohio (University of Alabama at Birmingham; Getty Images)

CLEVELAND, OHIO: A Cleveland Clinic hospital doctor was reportedly fired and arrested for sexually assaulting his patients on Tuesday, December 20. Dr Omar Massoud, 66, was charged with three counts of gross sexual imposition and three counts of kidnapping. A probe into the case in ongoing.

In a statement, Cleveland Clinic officials said that they took immediate action upon hearing the patients' complaints. The hospital added that they were strongly committed to protecting the rights and safety of its patients and caregivers against any inappropriate behavior. The doctor is accused of fondling three patients during separate incidents dating back to the spring of 2022, as per court documents obtained by The Daily Mail.

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Cleveland, Ohio, USA – October 12: Founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians. Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit medical center with hospital care, research and education. Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. Named one of the nation’s best hospitals, the Cleveland Clinic employees 66,000 with more than 4,200 salaried physicians and researchers. Cleveland Clinic’s health system includes a 165-acre main campus near downtown Cleveland and locations in Florida, Las Vegas, Toronto, Abu Dhabi, UAE, and London. — Founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit medical center with hospital care, research and education (Getty Images)

Who is Dr Omar Massoud?

Dr Massoud, who has more than 20 years of experience in the medical field, is a gastroenterologist, specializing in adult gastroenterology, according to his biography on HealthLine, which has now been removed. A gastroenterologist is a doctor who specializes in the digestive system. US News ranks Cleveland Clinic as the fourth-best hospital in the nation for gastroenterology and GI surgery. Massoud was reportedly accused of assaulting three patients in the hospital during an examination, per officials.

The first assault occurred on March 25 at the Cleveland Clinic's main campus located just outside of the downtown area. The other two incidents took place on November 11, followed by November 28 also at the hospital system's primary location, reported Daily Mail. Massoud is also the former chief of hepatology for the clinic and carries professional medical licenses in multiple states including Ohio, Alabama, Minnesota and Wisconsin, according to his public records.

"Cleveland Clinic is strongly committed to protecting the rights and safety of our patients, visitors and caregivers from any type of inappropriate behavior," said Cleveland Clinic officials in a statement. "We have processes for employees and patients to report any concerns, which are then thoroughly investigated. We immediately reported the accusations to the appropriate law enforcement agencies and are fully cooperating with the investigations. Following a thorough internal investigation, this physician has been terminated. We care deeply about patient safety and any form of misconduct is not tolerated," their statement reportedly continued. In Ohio, third-degree felonies carry sentences typically ranging from 9 to 36 months. If Massoud is found guilty, he may also face up to five years of probation plus sex offender registration.