His lawyer says it was good medical practice, but an orthopedic sports medicine doctor at Vermont’s largest hospital is denying 14 new charges of improper sexual conduct with patients.
Forty-seven-year-old Dr. Joseph A. Abate pleaded not guilty yesterday to new charges involving 11 patients in addition to the 22-year-old woman he was charged with molesting in June.
In that case, he was charged with touching her genitals during a follow-up exam after knee surgery.
Abate’s lawyer, Eric Miller, says the charges are bogus and result from sound medical practice.
Abate — who has worked at Burlington’s Fletcher Allen Health Care for about 10 years — was released on conditions including that he relinquish his passport, not leave the state, and not have contact with the alleged victims.