NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- A woman has filed suit under New York’s Child Victims Act alleging that New York-Presbyterian Hospital did not protect her from repeated sexual assaults that she faced when she was 11-years-old.
Filed Thursday in Manhattan Supreme Court by Gibbs Law Group and co-counsel, the suit claims Susan Kryhoski suffered from an easting disorder in 1992, and her family turned to anorexia expert Dr. Joseph A. Silverman. The now-late doctor recommended her to be hospitalized at Babies Hospital, Columbia-Presbyterian, which is now known as Morgan Stanley’s Children Hospital of New York-Presbyterian.
The suit alleges the abuse began from her first exam with Silverman when he “forcibly digitally penetrated her, saying he needed to check whether her uterus had been damaged by her eating disorder.”
Kryhoski was isolated away from other anorexia patients Dr. Silverman forced penetration or intercouse, the lawsuit says. It claims the doctor wouldn’t let her go home if she told anyone.
The suit also condemns hospital staff, saying Kryhoski showed distress in ways including drawing pictures of Silverman as a monster, but they instead looked the other way and threw out the drawings or scolded her.
Kryhoski later left the hospital after her parents grew frustrated over an alleged lack of updates on her treatment from Dr. Silverman.
The suit was filed under New York’s Child Victims Act, which allows those alleging abuse to file complaints through Aug. 14, no matter how old they are.
“I can no longer remain silent about what I have faced. As I have watched my children grow up, I began to see myself in them, and that is what has caused me to come forward,” Kryhoski said in a statement. “Though the pain will never go away, I am fighting to reclaim my story and hold the hospital accountable for their culture of silence and complicity.
Kryhoski told PIX11 that she now lives in North Carolina, and credits her husband for his understanding and support.
She says she hopes coming forward will help other alleged victims of Dr. Silverman may come forward.
NewYork-Presbyterian declined to comment.