Lawmakers say health care professionals are in a position of power and to take advantage of that trust to commit sexual imposition should come with increased criminal penalties.
More than 40 patients accused Ryan Smith of inappropriately touching them during their visits to his chiropractic office. Smith pleaded "no contest" to 66 counts of sexual imposition and recieved a sentence of 180 days in prison. That sentence is carried out on the weekends for 60 weeks.
Smith's victims say that punishment is too short and does not fit the crime. A bipartisan group of state lawmakers agree. That's why they're introducing a bill to take the crime of sexual imposition from a misdemeanor to a felony if it's carried out by a health care professional.
The mandatory sentence would be between two to eight years in prison.
As of now only mental health professionals are held to that standard. Barb Rathbun is a mental health clinician and the mother of one of Smith鈥檚 victims.
鈥淭he fact that a chiropractor uses the title of a doctor but is not held to the same standards under the law is sickening and wrong,鈥� says Rathbun.
The health care professionals that would be held to this standard include:
- Dentists
- Dental hygienists
- Registered nurses or licensed practical nurses
- Optometrists
- Physician鈥檚 assistants
- Physicians
- Psychologists
- Chiropractors
- Speech-language pathologists
- Audiologists
- Occupational therapists
- Physical therapists
- Athletic trainers
- Social workers
鈥淥ne of our pillars of justice is the simple concept that the punishment should fit the crime,鈥� says Rep. Kristin Boggs (D-Columbus), assistant minority leader. 鈥淚n this situation, the law did not take into account the special relationship chiropractors have with their patients, and the duty that such healthcare professionals have to act in the best interest of their patients, especially when working with children.鈥�
The change only addresses sexual imposition. Other forms of sexual assault by force are already considered felonies.
