Free Clinic Doc Accused of Taking Nude Pics of Patients

In court documents, a state investigator said more than 1300 explicit photos were on the doctor's work cellphone

An El Cajon doctor is accused of having more than a thousand images of naked female patients on his work cellphone, according to court documents in a state investigation.

One woman referred to in those documents claims she was seen by Dr. Jeffrey Abrams on January 4 at the Volunteers in Medicine Free Medical Clinic on East Madison Avenue.

The uninsured woman, who went to the free clinic with belly button pain, claims Abrams told her take off all her clothes then inserted his gloved finger into her vagina and asked "You have pain?"

Then, she claims he had her stand in front of him, pushed her hair away from her exposed breasts, pulled out a cellphone and took five pictures of her.

Attorney Jessica Pride says her client reported the incident to authorities because she didn’t want any other patient to go through the same experience. A subsequent search of his clinic uncovered more that 1,300 additional photos on his work cellphone, according to court documents.

“We were both surprised to hear that she was not the only one,” Pride said.

Many of the 1,300 explicit photos showed women’s vaginas, breasts and buttocks, documents alleged.

There was one explicit photo of a very young girl and video of a patient touching herself in the exam room with Abrams, the documents allege.

NBC 7 has attempted to reach Abrams for comment but has not received a response.

When NBC 7 called to see if the San Diego County District Attorney's Office was investigating potential criminal charges, a spokesperson for the DA declined to comment on pending investigations.

Maureen Hartin, CEO of Volunteers in Medicine, issued a statement Wednesday calling the allegations “very troubling.”

Hartin said one of the center's volunteer medical providers has been put on an immediate leave of absence while the California Medical Board investigates.

She added that the allegations “certainly are not a reflection” on the staff at the health care facility, the only free medical clinic in the East County.

The nonprofit center cared for 3,000 patients last year, providing them with medical visits, imaging and lab tests according to the organization’s statement.

Abrams is currently licensed to practice medicine in the state of California and is an Internal Medicine and Endocrinology specialist.

According to the Department of Consumer Affairs, Abrams has held a medical license since 1974 and has no disciplinary actions or malpractice judgments filed with the state.

Ed. Note: A previous version of this article reported a civil lawsuit had been filed in this case. We regret the error. 

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