Lawsuit: New York City hospital covered up abuse by star doctor convicted of rape

A major New York City hospital is facing allegations that hospital officials ignored a star physician’s rampant sexual abuse of patients for more than a decade. A civil suit filed by 19 former patients allege that Mount Sinai Beth Israel in Manhattan knew Dr. Ricardo Cruciani was abusive toward his patients, but failed to report him to law enforcement or licensing authorities. Mount Sinai Beth Israel had no immediate comment on the claims. Once a renowned pain doctor, Cruciani killed himself at New York’s notorious Rikers Island jail complex last August after a jury convicted him of 12 criminal counts, including rape.