DSK

I keep thinking about the Dominique Strauss-Kahn (DSK) case, the one where the French IMF guy was hauled off a flight and accused of raping a hotel maid. At the end of the day it is nearly impossible to determine who will be telling the truth. It is his word against her word. He will say it was consensual and she will deny it, that he forced himself on her. How is a jury supposed to determine who is right? There is no physical evidence that can be obtained to confirm either one's story (unless there are significant signs of assault).

In my practice, I examine women in an examination room and at times there is no one else in the room. My examination involves fully clothed males and females and is limited to the region above the shoulders. What prevents a woman from making a claim against me that I touched her inappropriately behind the closed doors. What proof do I have that this did not happen? What if it was some poor woman versus me, the rich doctor? Which side do you think the media would take?

In the DSK case the media is certainly taking the side of the maid as is the usual stance by the media. They always take the side of the underdog, the poor over the rich, the female over the male, or the minority over the Caucasian. I would probably be hauled off in handcuffs and sent to prison. My practice would be finished and my life would be shattered. I would have to pay a fortune to be defended by a lawyer that would likely bankrupt me. Then they would haul me in front of a jury who would have to decide if I was guilty based on my word versus her word. Based on my appearance, my demeanor, my testimony. And then maybe serve jail time for a crime that never happened.

Am I supposed to hire a person to be with me at all times in the office? Should I have video cameras going in my office at all times to protect me from false accusations? Is that even legal? One thing is for sure, if a woman comes to see me above 18 years old and below say 65 by herself I will try to remember to bring a staff member into the examination room with me. But I am not sure if even that completely protects me.

This is really scary stuff.