APRIL 16–An Arkansas gynecologist is facing video voyeurism charges after he allegedly used his cell phone to take nude photos of patients during office exams.
Police began investigating Paul Becton, Jr. earlier this month after a patient told cops that she was concerned that the 68-year-old doctor “produced his cellular telephone and took photographs of her pubic region and buttocks” during an office visit, according to an arrest affidavit.
Becton is seen in the above photo from his web site, which notes that he has practiced for over 30 years and is “very knowledgeable in the latest surgical techniques and women’s health issues.”
Armed with a search warrant, Arkansas State Police investigators seized Becton’s phone during an April 10 visit to his office in Paragould, a city about 20 miles northeast of Jonesboro.
A subsequent analysis of Becton’s phone revealed “numerous images of nude females that appear to have been taken in a medical office during medical examinations.” The photos were found “in the deleted images within the hard-drive” of the phone.
Investigators also noted that, “Also recovered during the examination were what appear to be photographs of the victim who reported this incident” to Paragould cops. The woman subsequently identified five “nude photographs that were taken without her knowledge or consent.”
Becton, who maintains a private OB/GYN practice at the Arkansas Methodist Medical Center, has been charged with five felony voyeurism counts related to the naked images of the woman who contacted police.
A bench warrant has been issued for Becton, who remains at large, according to investigators.
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/voyeuristic-gynecologist-687432
This is why you are supposed to have a nurse also in the room while you are being examined. It protects both the patient and the doctor from abuse and false accusations of abuse. If the doctor at your practice doesn’t do this, demand it or change doctors. Teach your daughters to always have a nurse in the room during these exams so that they know what is normal and good protocol. It is also acceptable to take a friend or relative along with you to the exam, if you want. It’s a shame that there are a few bad apples out there who do this type of stuff; most doctors would not.
Since he was photographing his patients, he’s simply going to say that the photos assisted him in making accurate diagnoses, and that will be the end of it as far as the courts are concerned, but we know better. After the trial the judge will ask him how young his patients are, and how much 50 pictures is going to cost him.
Why else would a gynecologist be taking these pictures? You would think he sees enough at work.
Think again when they say “it’s okay to take off your clothes. I’m a doctor”.
I mean this in a completely sincere way, but since when has a gynecologist ever legitimately taken photos of patients’ private areas for legitimate diagnostic purposes, with or WITHOUT their consent? I have never heard of such a thing — EVER!!!
Unless the judge is (a man? again I don’t mean that unkindly just perhaps this is something only a woman who has had countless exams like this with numerous different practitioners would know).
Seriously — I have NEVER heard of doctors photographing this part of a woman’s body for diagnostic purposes. I can think of zero reasons why it would be done. The exam is fairly quick and they “diagnose” by what’s INSIDE your body, not what’s OUTSIDE. They might look inside, they might feel inside — but no, really, it’s not what’s on the outside… so these external photos….. NOPE!!! Not buying it.
You’re right, EE. The only reasons for photo documentation would be insurance appeal, legal documentation for assault and battery, or medical textbook or article, but even then photographic documentation of this area is just not used. It’s extremely difficult to take a photograph of that area of the anatomy that clearly depicts an anomaly unless it’s very gross (can be seen with the naked eye), and it’s fraught with risk for the practitioner and everyone else involved. Even in cases of criminal adjudication, the written/transcribed documentation and testimony of the examining physician is used.
Here’s one statistic that you’ll never hear from the AMA: fully 30% of allopathic physicians are sociopaths. It’s a career path that attracts the bright sociopath as it offers great control, authority, and remuneration.