A doctor at a Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital in New York faces multiple criminal charges for alleged criminal conduct in 2016. Doctor Jerome F. Cuyler worked with service members that were part of the Integrated Disability Evaluation System during the time of the accusations.
The VA fired the 74 year-old physician as a result of these charges.
The charges stem from an investigation by the VA. The VA conducted an investigation. During the investigation the physician lost “all clinical responsibilities.” The physician was able to complete non-clinical responsibilities during the investigation.
United States Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York has voiced frustration with the VA’s handling of these allegations. She questions why the agency failed to report the physician to the New York State Licensing Board and whether or not the physician was able to continue his practice on non-VA patients during the course of the investigation. The Senator sent a letter to the Department of Veteran Affairs demanding details of these alleged crimes to find some answers to her questions.
New York Office of Professions’ online database still listed the physician as active as of early April. Dr. Cuyler currently faces criminal charges which include:
- Felony fourth-degree aggravated sexual abuse
- Misdemeanor forcible touching, six counts
- Misdemeanor third-degree sexual abuse, five counts
Ultimately, the VA determined the case was outside of their jurisdiction and handed the case over to the local district attorney. The Senator questions why it took almost two years to make this decision.
The physician was arraigned in local court and released on his own recognizance. The physician will need to build a defense to fight the allegations. A failure to do so could further damage his personal and professional reputation as well as result in the loss of his medical license.