A jury found a primary care doctor at the Atlanta VA Medical Center in Decatur, Georgia, guilty of sexually assaulting a patient during a routine medical exam. The Department of Justice announced Wednesday.

Dr. of Lilburn, Georgia. Rajesh Motibhai Patel (69) was accused of sexually harassing four female patients during appointments between 2019 and 2020.

Patel, who worked at the hospital from December 2015 to February 2020, was accused of violating patients’ “constitutional right to bodily integrity” and making unwanted sexual contact, according to court documents. He was acquitted of charges against three victims on Tuesday but was found guilty of assaulting the fourth patient.

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“Dr. Patel violated the cardinal rule that a doctor should not harm patients in his care,” U.S. Attorney Ryan Buchanan said in a statement Wednesday. “Veterans who consulted him for treatment, like the victim in this case, trusted Dr. Patel and he violated that trust.”

Patel is board certified in internal medicine, specializing in geriatric care, according to a database of National Provider Identifier numbers used to identify health care providers.

The Atlanta VA Medical Center provides care to approximately 130,000 patients. In January, a veteran experiencing a mental health crisis was shot by VA police while brandishing a knife. No charges were filed in connection with the incident.

The hospital closed its operating rooms for several weeks in August to deal with “limited sightings of flies” in rooms two to three times a day, according to media reports.

Patel’s case was investigated by the VA Office of Inspector General and the Department of Justice.

According to the VA OIG, the investigative office investigates potential crimes and civil violations committed by VA employees, contractors, patients and others on VA facilities and within VA programs and operations.

Such investigations may include healthcare, purchasing, benefits, cybercrimes, identity theft, embezzlement, violent crimes, and more.

Because the VA OIG did not have prosecutorial authority, investigations were turned over to the Department of Justice for prosecution, as contemplated in the Patel case.

“The decision is an important step in the pursuit of justice for a sexual assault committed against a veteran who sought care at a VA medical center,” VA Inspector General Michael Missal said in a statement Wednesday. he said. “VA employees have a duty to keep our nation’s veterans safe while they receive care. Acts of violence against veterans at VA facilities are reprehensible and undermine that trust.”

Patel will be sentenced on February 20, according to the Department of Justice.

“We hope his conviction will provide some measure of healing for those affected by his crimes,” Buchanan said.

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