[classicman]

Beebe Medical Center heard allegations about Dr. Earl Bradley 14 years ago
Facing 18 lawsuits in case, hospital could go into bankruptcy

After four months of revealing little of what they knew about pediatrician Earl B. Bradley, accused of sexually abusing patients for years, administrators at Beebe Medical Center now say they investigated a 1996 report that he inappropriately touched young girls.

Hospital officials cleared Bradley of misconduct after reviewing the complaint by a nurse who worked with Bradley at his Beebe office.

The incident was never reported to Delaware's medical disciplinary board. Police and prosecutors did not learn about the hospital's investigation of Bradley until after they charged him recently with rape and sexual abuse of 103 patients during examinations or visits to an outbuilding at his office near Lewes.

The admission of the 1996 investigation comes as the hospital prepares to defend itself against at least 18 lawsuits from families of Bradley's alleged victims. Beebe officials said they fear the lawsuits could force the hospital into bankruptcy.

The disclosures are a turnabout from the hospital's posture just a few days after Bradley's Dec. 16 arrest, when officials at Beebe said they had no inkling of any past problems with Bradley. Since then, Beebe officials have acknowledged withholding facts that they have gradually released. During a two-hour interview in the Lewes office of the hospital's CEO, the clearest picture yet has emerged of Bradley's relationship with Beebe, where he worked in various capacities from 1994 until being locked up in December.

Sitting at a table in his office, Beebe CEO Jeffrey M. Fried told The News Journal that hospital officials did not inform Milford police in 2005 that the hospital had investigated the way Bradley kissed and touched girls he treated in 1996.

In 2005, Milford police also were investigating complaints Bradley offensively kissed and touched young girls, but Beebe officials kept quiet, despite receiving a subpoena in the Milford case seeking any complaints and disciplinary actions against Bradley.

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from the video link:

"It is absolutely imperative that this hospital survive"

At what cost? Was this part of the decision that was made not to report this A-hole?