First trial against CT doctor begins ("He's dead, Jim")

WTNH.com ^ | 05 Apr 2011 | Erin Cox

[raybbr]

Waterbury, Conn (WTNH) - The first civil trial in the case of a Connecticut doctor suspected of sexually abusing hundreds of children got underway Tuesday.

The defendant, Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center, where Doctor George Reardon worked, is accused of failing to protect the alleged victims.

On this first day, jurors already had to see disturbing child pornography pictures, and they are likely to see many more, as John Doe #2 tries to prove that St Francis Hospital failed to protect him from Doctor George Reardon.

Reardon died in 1988, but dozens claim that as children they took part in a growth study at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford, and during visits there, Reardon posed them in sexual positions and took pictures.

Lawyers for many of them claim the hospital failed to supervise the study, thereby failing to prevent the abuse.

[raybbr]

Suing the body of man dead for 23 years? What could they get?

I know, it's the headline - it's awful.

[count-your-change]

It’s the hospital that is the defendant.

[SECURE AMERICA]

The Hospital is responsible?
Where were the parents?

[CalvaryJohn]

I hate bad journalism. Headline offenders are the worst.

[Graybeard58]

Reardon died in 1988

Did he stay alive long enough for a criminal trial?

[Defend Liberty]

It seems as though the plaintiff has a case only if the plaintiff can prove someone on the hospital staff, other than Reardon, knew the sexual abuse was occurring.

Two interesting questions are, would it be an effective legal strategy for the hospital to file a law suit against the parents for not telling the hospital given St. Francis's contention they didn't know because the parents didn't tell the hospital? Don't the parents have at least some culpability?

[Jonah Hex]

There is a precedent for posthumous trials.

[Graybeard58]

Thanks for the reference, I vaguely remember reading that before.

[BilLies]

Here is a time line on Reardon published locally.

http://www.courant.com/community/hartford/hc-reardon-timeline,0,3533720.story

[BilLies]

He died in 1998 according to the local paper.
The 1988 appears to be wrong, but then it is a TV station article.

[momtothree]

“Don’t the parents have at least some culpability?”

I personally believe that this period of time holds some of the culpability. People didn’t suspect this type of behavior especially from a medical professional. Abuse wasn’t discussed by adults or children. This was able to occur simply because the children were too afraid to tell their parents and the hospital never thought that the research project was odd. That being said, I am sure it could happen today. When trying to find a dentist for my kids, you would be amazed that some practices DON”T allow parents with the kids in the back rooms. I walked out on one who wouldn’t let me go with them but the waiting room was full. Just a thought