BOSTON, Mass. — A former doctor at Children’s Hospital Boston was found dead on Feb. 18, one day after he was sued for allegedly sexually abusing as many as 5,000 patients. A suicide note was found in the doctor’s home.
The lawsuit cited 40 former patients who said Dr. Melvin D. Levine performed unnecessary genital examinations on them throughout his 19-year career at Children’s Hospital, Boston.com reports. The patients were all young boys at the time of the alleged sexual abuse.
The lawsuit also claims that the hospital was negligent in failing to properly supervise Levine. He reportedly banned parents from the room during examinations and required his patients to remove their clothing for the duration of the exam.
Levine, who relocated to North Carolina more than 20 years ago, signed an agreement in 2009 with the North Carolina Medical Board to never again practice medicine. In 2008, Levine was accused of sexually abusing at least seven boys. That case has since been settled.
Levine, who was also a best-selling author, specialized in children with developmental and educational issues.