NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Seventeen women have filed a lawsuit against a Staten Island gynecologist, alleging they were inappropriately touched during exams, subjected to inappropriate comments, and suffered emotional distress following their visits.
A civil complaint filed Oct. 30, details allegations from plaintiffs who remained anonymous, identified only as "Jane Doe." The claims include multiple instances where Dr. Paul Heltzer, a long-time trusted OB-GYN on Staten Island, allegedly touched patients inappropriately during breast exams—flicking, twisting, or rubbing nipples and piercings—and making inappropriate comments about their sex lives.
Heltzer is also accused of conducting pelvic exams that lasted longer than medically necessary and placing his hands on patients' breasts or buttocks while not actively examining them.
“We will be defending Dr. Heltzer regarding the claims of these former, unnamed patients in their unverified complaint,” Heltzer’s attorney Anthony Lenza said. “There are countless other former patients of Dr. Heltzer who would attest to his good character. We look forward to clearing Dr. Heltzer’s good name through the court process including trial if need be.”
For years, Heltzer was known as a beloved physician who delivered countless babies and provided compassionate care to women from across the city, according to his patients.
Patients like Liza Rodriguez, who had been under his care for 12 years, are grappling with the allegations. “My mouth just hung. I don’t see him like that. He was very understanding. He was very compassionate,” Rodriguez told 1010 WINS. “He would tell me, just relax."
Dominique McCall, another longtime patient who saw Heltzer for over 20 years, shared similar disbelief. “I was like, what? This is not him. It can’t be,” she said. Heltzer had delivered both of McCall’s children. "I’m appalled by it, to be completely honest."
This filing follows lawsuits from April by two patients with similar allegations and another from last November, in which a patient claimed Heltzer made a tactless comment about her genital piercing during an annual exam.
Attorney Robert E. Brown is representing the plaintiffs, who allege incidents occurred over the past several years before Dr. Paul Heltzer closed his Ocean Breeze office in July.