Biomedical Ethics Test

Former USA Gymnastics team doctor pleads guilty to sexual assault Owen Dyer

Montreal

A once renowned sports medicine specialist accused of molesting at least 125 girls and women while he worked for USA Gymnastics and for Michigan State University has pleaded guilty to multiple charges of sexual assault and will face at least 25 years in prison. Larry Nassar, 54, a father of three, admitted to digitally penetrating seven girls while pretending to treat their injuries at his home in Lansing, Michigan and at a campus clinic from 1998 to 2015. In some cases he abused girls while their parents were in the examining room. “For all those involved, I’m so horribly sorry that this was like a match that turned into a forest fire out of control,” Nassar told a Lansing courtroom. “I pray the rosary every day for forgiveness. I want them to heal. I want the community to heal.” Nassar’s court admission was the first time he acknowledged that his acts had no legitimate medical purpose. The plea deal sets a minimum of 25 years in prison, but the court could sentence him to as long as 40 years. Nassar also faces a plea hearing on 29 November in a separate case with similar charges in neighboring Eaton County, and in

December he will be sentenced in a third, federal court on child pornography charges he has already admitted to. He lost his medical license in April. Dozens of female former athletes have also filed a suit against USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University, which they accuse of having ignored or belittled complaints against Nassar stretching back to 1997. The university launched an inquiry into one woman’s complaint in 2014 but concluded that she had misunderstood Nassar’s medical treatment. The university has commissioned an independent inquiry into how complaints about Nassar were handled, but it has no plans to release its results, citing concerns over litigation. All 125 women who have lodged complaints with the campus police will be able to speak at Nassar’s sentencing on 12 January. USA Gymnastics has been rocked by resignations, including the CEO and the women’s gymnastics coach. The criminal investigation of Nassar began after an Indianapolis Star article documented the organization’s chronic mishandling of sexual abuse allegations. USA Gymnastics has since adopted new policies, including banning one-on-one visits by medical staff at athletes’ accommodation at the national training center.

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BMJ 2017;359:j5481 doi: 10.1136/bmj.j5481 (Published 24 November 2017) Page 1 of 1

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