Chicago Chiropractor Sued for Sexually Assaulting Patient in Exam Room; Lawsuit Points to Pattern of Misconduct
CHICAGO – [Thursday, September 18] – A Chicago chiropractor groped his patient and sexually assaulted her during what should have been a routine medical visit, according to a new lawsuit.
Gould Grieco & Hensley, PLLC filed the complaint against Ahmad Drea, DC, and Integrity Medical Group in The Cook County Circuit Court. It alleges the medical center allowed Dr. Drea to continue treating patients even after several reports of sexual abuse surfaced.
Plaintiff, a 52-year-old woman, first sought chiropractic care at Integrity Medical Group in April 2024 after she was injured in a motor vehicle crash. During treatment, the lawsuit alleges her chiropractor, Dr. Drea, began inappropriately massaging and groping her. Plaintiff, who had never received chiropractic care before, assumed it was medically necessary.
At a subsequent appointment, the complaint alleges Dr. Drea groped Plaintiff again, this time commenting on the softness of her skin and further assaulting her. Plaintiff demanded he stop, never consenting to any contact beyond what was medically necessary to treat her injuries.
“Our client walked into a clinic seeking care and left with trauma that will follow her for the rest of her life,” said Charles Terry, Partner at GGH. “No patient should ever fear being abused by the very professional entrusted with their health.”
The complaint alleges Integrity Medical Group was aware of Dr. Drea’s behavior – including a report of sexual assault that led to a separate lawsuit against him and the practice for abuse that occurred in October 2023 – yet allowed him to continue treating patients. Dr. Drea was terminated only after numerous women came forward with similar allegations of abuse.
“That shows just how badly Integrity Medical Group failed its patients,” said Terry. “Medical providers have a duty to act on the first sign of abuse, not wait until a pattern emerges. Integrity Medical Group enabled this predator and put countless other patients at risk.”
Plaintiff seeks compensatory damages, and will seek punitive damages, through 15 counts, including sexual assault, battery, vicarious liability, and violations of the Gender Violence Act. Her case, attorneys note, reflects a larger crisis. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution analyzed two
decades of records and uncovered more than 3,500 cases of physician sexual misconduct across the United States between 1999 and 2019.
Plaintiff is represented by Charles Terry of Gould Grieco & Hensley, PLLC.
About Gould Grieco & Hensley, PLLC
Gould Grieco & Hensley (GGH) is a boutique national personal injury firm dedicated to advocating for victims of abuse and catastrophic injuries in high-stakes litigation. We pride ourselves on being Innovators of Law and Providers of Justice.
Our attorneys have litigated and won cases nationwide, representing thousands of individuals, including thousands of survivors of rape, sexual assault, and childhood sexual abuse in many of the highest profile abuse cases across the country. These cases include claims against private and public institutions such as University of Michigan (Dr. Robert Anderson), Michigan State University (Dr. Larry Nasser), Endeavor Health (Dr. Fabio Ortega), professional sports teams, private and public schools, elite private boarding schools, orphanages, foster care programs, hospitals, mental health facilities, Fortune 500 companies, wealthy individuals (Jeffrey Epstein), and numerous religious institutions and related entities. Recent successes include participating in global settlements valued at nearly $3 billion, with over $400 million recovered on behalf of survivors of sexual abuse and exploitation in the past 18 months.
In addition to securing record recoveries, GGH attorneys have also worked with clients to fought for and secure policy changes, helping protect future generations of children and adults from abuse and exploitation. For example, as part of a recent $21.3 million settlement in the hotel abuse case last year (one of the largest settlements in the country for an individual survivor), the firm also successfully secured policy and training changes for thousands of hotels improving hotel pre-employment screening and safety for hotel guests and employees nationwide.
Firm website: www.GGHLaw.com.
Media Contact:
Zoe Chipalla
zchipalla@gghlaw.com