Portland, OR Podiatrist Sentenced to More Than 8 Years for Sexually Abusing Over A Dozen Patients

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A Portland podiatrist has been sentenced to more than eight years in prison after 13 women reported that he sexually abused them during medical treatment and while they were recovering from surgery, KPTV/FOX 12 reported, per WWNYTV.com .

Brian Bowen, 52, received a 100-month prison sentence Friday following his conviction on one count of first-degree sexual abuse and guilty pleas to 12 additional sexual abuse charges involving patients.

The cases involved conduct that prosecutors said occurred while Bowen was treating women in a medical setting, where patients were entitled to expect safety and professional care.

Abuse Allegations Involved Medical Exams and Surgical Recovery

Investigators said Bowen inappropriately touched patients during examinations and while they were recovering from procedures.

Prosecutors said the conduct was often brief and occurred without verbal comments, which left some patients confused about whether what had happened was part of legitimate medical care.

That ambiguity, prosecutors argued, helped the abuse continue over an extended period.

The 13 criminal counts ultimately represented 13 separate patients.

Oregon Law Targets Sexual Contact Falsely Presented as Medical Care

Bowen pleaded guilty to two counts involving sexual abuse through false representation.

Under an Oregon law enacted in 2023, licensed medical professionals can face criminal charges when they engage in sexual contact with a patient while falsely claiming the contact serves a legitimate medical purpose.

The law addresses a particular vulnerability in healthcare settings: patients may not immediately know whether certain touching is medically necessary, especially during an exam or while recovering from surgery.

Bowen Must Register as a Sex Offender

In addition to the prison sentence, Bowen will be required to register as a sex offender.

He will also face several years of post-prison supervision after completing his sentence.

Deputy District Attorney Quinn Zemel said the case reflected an abuse of the trust patients place in medical professionals and emphasized that patients should be able to seek medical care without fearing sexual exploitation.

Medical Abuse Cases Can Raise Civil Questions Too

Criminal prosecution focuses on punishment for unlawful conduct, but survivors of sexual abuse by medical professionals may also have separate civil claims depending on the facts of the case.

Those claims may involve the individual provider as well as a clinic, medical practice or other institution if there are allegations that warning signs were ignored, complaints were mishandled or adequate safeguards were not in place.

For survivors, the criminal conviction does not automatically determine whether a civil claim is available, but it can become an important part of the broader legal picture.