Florida cardiologist arrested for allegedly kissing patient without consent
A 65-year-old Florida cardiologist has been arrested for allegedly touching a female patient inappropriately.
Jose Jacob, MD, of the Cardiovascular Institute of Central Florida was charged with battery after a female patient told authorities the physician asked her inappropriate personal questions, “hugged her closely” and then kissed her twice without consent.
Jacob denied the allegations, according to an online post shared by the Ocala Police Department. However, he provided “conflicting statements” when questioned.
“Additional information revealed prior allegations of inappropriate conduct by Jacob at this location and another location in North Carolina,” the police department added in its statement.
Arrest records from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office confirm that Jacob was brought in on March 28 and then released approximately four hours later on a $1,500 bond.
The Ocala Police Department has asked that any other patients who have experienced similar behavior to step forward.
The Cardiovascular Institute of Central Florida home page currently includes a message from when Jacob first joined the practice. Clicking that message, however, leads to a blank screen, suggesting the information was moved offline.
‘He has taken my freedom’
The patient did speak on the record to FOX 35 in Orlando, though she wished to remain anonymous.
“He has taken my freedom, my joy,” she said. “I’m scared to go out now. I’m scared to go to my doctor’s appointments now. I just focus, just to get my papers and run out of that place because I just didn’t want to be there anymore, and I sat in my car, I went in my car and started crying.”
Click here for additional details from FOX 35.
Michael has more than 18 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.